Mixed Intercropping: Growing two or more crops simultaneously with no district row arrangement.
Example: Pumpkins, okra, cowpea and cucumber can be grown simultaneously on the same field with no distinct row arrangement.

Row intercropping: Row intercropping is the growing of two or more crops at the same time with at least one crop planted in rows. When all the crops are grown in rows a specific ratio is maintained.
Example: Wheat and mustard, wheat and pea

Strip cropping: Growing of two or more crops of different families at the same time in small portions arranged side by side. It is ideal for vegetables. The crops should be grown wide enough to permit separate crop production using machines but close enough for the crops to interact.
Example: Alternating strips of wheat, corn and soybean 6 rows wide each.

Relay Intercropping: Planting a second crop into a standing crop at a time when the standing crop is at its reproductive stage but before harvesting. Example: Intercropping soybean with ripened winter wheat

• Replenishes soil fertility: intercropping with nitrogen-fixing legumes adds ‘top-dressing Fertilizer’ to the soil
• Enables crops to use the nutrients in the soil more effectively
• Helps to control weeds, diseases and pests by breaking their life cycles through the introduction of a new crop
• Reduces the risk of total crop failure in case of drought and disease outbreak.
• Reduces the plant diseases. The distance between plants of the same species is increased because other crops (belonging to a different family group) are planted in between.
• Results in potential increase for total production and farm profitability than when the same crops are grown separately.
• Provides 2 or more different food crops for the farm family in one cropping season.