A Novel Bio-Inspired Optimization Model For Intercropping Pattern Recommendation

Intercropping is one of the best cropping pattern methods in crop planning optimization. The intercropping method improves crop yield and profit and reduces weed, pesticides, and irrigation water. The intercropping pattern is the best way to properly utilize the available resources and improve crop yield and profit with available land and water. Social Spider Optimization Algorithm (SSOA) is a relatively new biologically inspired algorithm that is applied to give different intercropping pattern suggestions. Four different land categories and three different cropping patterns are used in this research work. The best intercropping patterns are suggested to each cropping pattern with different landholdings based on their profit, production, and crop water requirement by SSA. The cropping patterns for this research work are collected and formed based on the farmer’s practices in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, India. The results showed that the large landholding farmers are suggested to use a single crop pattern or triple crop pattern based on the water availability in the area.