Source: http://vasat.icrisat.org/crops/pearl_millet/pm_production/html/m8_8.1/index.html

                   Pearl millet mixed with many crops

Mixed cropping refers to simultaneously growing more than one crop in the same land area as a mixture.

                Pearl millet mixed cropping

Unlike in intercropping system, in mixed cropping the crops are grown without any definite proportion or pattern. Mixed cropping of pearl millet-pigeon pea is most common. Mixtures with green gram (mung), black gram (urid), cowpea and even with sorghum and other cereals, vegetables, etc. during kharif are practiced under different situations.

       Pearl millet mixed with many crops

Mixed cropping is practiced in traditional subsistence farming to meet the domestic needs of the farmer's family. Thus, the number of crops grown mixed varies depending on the family needs.

Even though crops in the mixed cropping meets the farmer’s family needs, the yield of crops will be very low due to the competition between the crops for water, light, nutrients etc. A better cropping system will be adopting intercropping system involving the major crops. However, the crop plants required to meet the family needs could still be grown on the field bunds, on the field borders, and in the house back yards.

Nine crops in the field are:                         

                         Pearl millet,
                         Maize,
                         Sunflower,
                         Ragi,
                         2 Sorghum types
                         Groundnut
                         2 Green leaf
                         Vegetables
                         a.Hibiscus(Gongura)
                         b.Amaranthus (Totakura)