Evaluation and Presentation of Intercropping Advantages

Abstract

SUMMARY It is proposed that two distinct objectives should be recognized in the evaluation of intercropping advantages: (i) a biological objective to determine the increased biological efficiency of intercropping and (ii) a practical objective to determine the advantages that are likely to be obtained by a farmer. The sole crop systems with which intercropping must be compared to satisfy these objectives are defined. Evaluation in relative, absolute, monetary and nutritional units is discussed and some aspects of presenting intercropping data in graphical form are illustrated.