ASSESSMENT OF SUGARCANE INTER CROPPING WITH DIFFERENT CROPS

Abstract

The rapidly growing population of Pakistan needs to fulfill its food and nutrition requirements, and to achieve this, a collaborative strategy must be adopted to increase productivity by intensifying land use. Intercropping, which involves cultivating multiple crops in the same space simultaneously, is an advanced management practice that improves soil fertility and increases yield on a given piece of land by utilizing a mixture of crops with different abilities in rooting,
canopy structures, height, and nutrient requirements. Intercropping is particularly beneficial for smallholder farmers in the sub-tropics, where intercropping sugarcane and legumes is widespread due to the legume's ability to address declining soil fertility. This review paper focuses on the role of intercropping systems in improving the growth, yield, and nutrient status of sugarcane in smallholder farms in semi-arid areas of Pakistan and other countries. The study discusses the
different intercropping systems used in sugarcane and their effectiveness in increasing productivity, profitability, water use efficiency, and controlling weeds, pests, and diseases. The findings of this study will be useful for researchers involved in this field.