Eggplant mango intercrop
Eggplants covered by straw mulch interact beneficially with mango trees. In the dry season, the trees provide shade to the annual crops while the mulch retains soil moisture in the root zones. The soil is prevented from eroding by the annual crop and mulch cover, and its quality will improve when the mulch is decaying. On top of this, mulch could provide co-benefit of weed control on the parcel.
To overcome the lack of income when the mango trees are not yet producing fruits (in the first three years, depending on the variety), extra eggplant can be cultivated in the free space between the trees. To avoid nutrient exploitation and disease outbreaks, the farmer should consider adopt a rotation of the annual crop.
