How to intercrop peas? A detailed tutorial on the latest technical methods

Peas are a commonly planted legume vegetable. In production and cultivation, they can commonly be intercropped with many crops, not just grown as the sole crop of peas. Intercropping can eliminate and prevent some pests and diseases, can also increase soil fertility, improve light utilization, and can also play a role in shading and weed suppression. As long as the intercropped crops are mutually compatible and mutually beneficial, they can be intercropped together. Next, let us look at which crops can be intercropped with peas, what benefits there are, and how to intercrop them.

1. Intercropping peas with corn

First sow peas in the field in strip planting, leaving rows for corn in the middle and on both sides. Generally, about three rows of peas are planted, then two rows are left for corn planting, and rows are left in this way. Sow the peas first. After the peas emerge and gradually grow to about 30 cm, when trellising can be done, corn can be sown. After corn emerges, it quickly joints and grows tall, and generally the two will not restrict each other. Peas soon bloom and set pods, while corn is still in the vegetative growth stage, so their nutrient demands do not conflict and can be supplemented in a targeted way. When peas set pods, corn can block part of the strong light for them, preventing water loss during the day. After peas are harvested, corn enters the flowering stage, and the dried pea residues can be turned into the soil as fertilizer for corn.

2. Intercropping peas with tobacco

After the lower and middle leaves of flue-cured tobacco have all been harvested, sowing peas can begin. When tobacco is planted, the rows are relatively wide because of the leaf growth. In addition, after the lower leaves are picked, there are enough gaps between the rows, so peas can be drilled directly between the rows. When peas emerge, the upper leaves can maintain a warm and moist environment for the pea seedlings. When they grow to the point of needing trellising, the tobacco leaves and buds have been mostly harvested, and this is the peak growth period of peas. They will not compete with the tobacco for nutrients and water and can receive enough light for normal growth. Moreover, tobacco stalks can be used to form a net for trellising, saving manpower and materials.

3. Fertilization for intercropping

For garden peas, apply base fertilizer using mild farmyard manure, about 300 jin per mu, and some compound fertilizer can also be added. The fertilizer can be diluted with water before use, because the pea root system is mainly fibrous roots and is not strong, so root damage should be avoided. After trellising, topdress once more. The topdressing is mainly compound chemical fertilizer broadcast directly on the soil surface, without covering with soil. In addition, foliar spraying fertilizer supplements potassium, boron, molybdenum, and other trace elements. For corn, the base fertilizer is mainly about 50 jin of compound chemical fertilizer, 50 jin of plant ash, and about 100 jin of human and livestock manure. During the grain-filling stage, topdress with urea to promote ear formation. Tobacco fertilization can follow normal fertilization, but more base fertilizer can be applied during land preparation so that it lasts longer, because applying base fertilizer between the rows for peas midway is not very convenient. After that, topdressing can be carried out according to its own needs.

Peas can be intercropped with a variety of crops to maximize the use of land resources and create more economic benefits, but when intercropping, the conflicting aspects of the two crops' growth must be minimized. This is the best way and the main purpose of efficient pea intercropping.