It is a strategic agroforestry practice that addresses the long waiting period (10 years) for agarwood maturation by providing immediate financial returns. This "mixed farming" approach not only generates short-term income but also improves soil quality and tree growth through shared resources and maintenance.
1. Economic and Biological Benefits
Integrating short-term crops into agarwood plantations offers several advantages:
Interim Income: Fast-maturing vegetables provide cash flow while farmers wait for the "green gold" resin to develop.
Enhanced Tree Growth: Studies indicate that intercropping with certain vegetables can significantly increase the circumference of agarwood trees compared to monoculture.
Optimized Land Use: Growing multiple species together promotes biodiversity and ensures more efficient use of water and nutrients.
Reduced Risks: Diversifying crops reduces the financial risk associated with the long-term investment in agarwood alone.
2. Recommended Vegetable Intercrops
Research has identified several highly profitable and compatible crops for unmatured agarwood plantations:
Chilli: Recorded as having the highest net profit among studied intercrops (e.g., RM 1180.60 in specific trials) and a positive impact on tree circumference.
Okra: A proven short-term revenue source that, along with chilli, is shown to have no negative impact on agarwood growth.
Corn (Maize): Produced the highest weight yield in trials, though it typically generates lower net profit than chilli or okra.
Legumes: Crops like French beans and cowpeas are excellent for enhancing soil fertility by incorporating residual organic matter back into the soil.
Tubers: Common in regions like Vietnam, agarwood is frequently intercropped with cassava, sweet potato, and yam.
Shade-Tolerant Options: As the canopy closes, farmers may transition to crops like pineapple or turmeric.
3. Cultivation Best Practices
Spacing Strategy: In commercial plantations, agarwood trees should be spaced at approximately 2.75 m x 2.75 m to allow room for intercropping. Alternatively, high-density systems (e.g., 7ft x 7ft) can accommodate about 800 trees per acre.
Early Year Focus: Most vegetable intercropping occurs during the first 1 to 5 years before the tree canopy becomes too dense.
Soil Management: Use organic fertilizers like cow dung and add coco-peat to loosen the soil for better aeration.
Canopy and Pruning: Restricting tree height to about 20 feet via pruning stops vertical growth, helps avoid wind damage, and allows more light to reach the intercrops below.
4. Considerations for Success
Weed Control: While intercropping can help crowd out weeds, overall management may become more complex; annual weeding remains necessary for healthy trees.
Pest Management: Young agarwood is susceptible to leaf-eating caterpillars (e.g., Heortia vitessoides Moore). Using biopesticides is recommended over chemical alternatives to protect the environment.
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