There are several benefits of companion planting. The farmers? first and foremost is the protection of crop from the pesticides and other insect which reduce the yield of the crop. The gardeners? is the diversity and ecology to create an attractive vegetable garden. Though the idea for companion planting is that the different species of plants thrive more together, there are several other benefits for companion planting.
The basic benefit of companion planting is to protect crops from pesticides. But they also serve the purpose of a shelter or cover for other plants from wind breaks and noonday sunlight. Some plants attract pests more towards themselves than others thus providing trap cropping to protect crops.
Some plants grow at different levels and thus provide ground base for other plants and also act as trellis for certain plants. Certain plants like herbs change the flavor of other plants around them causing a flavor enhancement in the garden.
Because companion planting allows planting different plants tightly in a small space, this ensures certain yield even when the other plant is broken or damaged due to some catastrophe. The companion planting helps nitrogen fixation which is caused by certain plants which can fix nitrogen in the ground and provide it to other plants around them.
Knowing the benefits of companion planting certainly allows a gardener or a farmer to make his job better.
