(a) Discuss two ways of incorporating desirable characteristics into crop varieties.
(b) What is inter-cropping? How are crops selected for inter-cropping?

Answer

N/a

Explanation

Desirable characteristics can be incorporated in a crop variety by two methods:
(i) Hybridization. This is a genetical technique. This method involves crossing of the selected plants having one or more of the desirable characteristics (ii) Genetic engineering. Introduction of desirable characteristics with the help of techniques available in biotechnology.
(b) Intercropping. It is growing of two or more crops simultaneously in the same field but in different row patterns.
Crops are selected for intercropping on the basis of different nutrient requirement and different sowing and reaping (harvesting) times, e.g., soybean and maize.