How to intercrop corn
How to intercrop corn
Corn (Zea mays L., 1753) is an annual herbaceous plant of the grass family cultivated by indigenous populations in central Mexico since prehistoric times about 10,000 years ago.
Corn is one of the most important cereals that is widely cultivated in both tropical and temperate regions, in the latter case with a spring-summer cycle.
Corn represents one of the most important traditional foods of the populations of Latin America and some regions of Europe and North America.
In temperate regions it is mainly intended for feeding domestic animals, in the form of grain, flour or other feed, or as silage, generally harvested when waxy; it is also used for industrial transformations for the extraction of starch and oil or for fermentation, with the aim of producing alcoholic beverages or bioethanol for energy purposes by distillation.
In any case, whether it is cultivated in horticultural systems or on large areas, it benefits considerably from intercropping, even if on large areas, all operations must be evaluated, from tillage to sowing, to intermediate operations up to harvesting. With the advent of precision agriculture and specific machinery, maize intercropping, for large-scale cultivation, can have a new impetus, significantly reducing the use of synthetic products, herbicides, fertilizers, etc.
Corn is a plant that benefits greatly from intercropping, used since ancient times especially in its area of origin.
The plants that can be associated with corn are: garlic, basil, calendula, hemp, cucumber, onion, watermelon, melon, nasturtium, okra, potato, pea, tomato, pumpkin and courgette. Particularly advantageous is the intercropping of corn with beans.
However, corn and turnip or celery should never be combined.
Intercropping corn with certain plants is done to improve growth, prevent disease, and optimize land use. Some of the most common and beneficial plants to combine with corn are:
Beans: Beans enrich the soil with nitrogen, which is beneficial for corn. Additionally, runner beans can use corn as support for climbing.
Squash: Squash, with their large leaves, help suppress weeds and keep the soil moist around the corn. This intercropping system is known as “the three sisters” (corn, beans and squash), a traditional Native American practice.
Nasturtium: Planting nasturtiums around corn can help keep pests like aphids and beetles away. Nasturtiums also attract beneficial insects.
Basil: Basil can improve the flavor of corn and helps keep harmful insects away.
Marigold: Marigolds can help keep nematodes and other soil pests away.
Onion and Garlic: These plants help deter pests and can improve the overall growth of surrounding plants.
Companioning plants in a vegetable garden can offer many benefits, including increased biodiversity, improved soil quality and a reduction in pests. However, you must make sure that you carefully evaluate the pedoclimatic compatibility of the individual plants and plan the arrangement of the plants so that they all have enough space and sunlight to grow adequately.