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Companion Planting
Companion planting is based on the idea that certain plants benefit others when planted in close proximity.
The scientific basis for these beneficial associations includes the following mechanisms:
- Biochemical Pest Suppression by allelochemicals; i.e., secondary compounds produced by organisms that modify growth, behavior or population dynamics of other species. These often have an inhibitory or regulatory effect, such as with thiopene (a nematicide) from marigolds.
- Physical-Spatial Interactions, such as the use of nurse crops; e.g., tall-growing, sun-adapted plants associated with low-growing, shade-adapted plants.
- Beneficial Habitats; e.g., the benefit derived when companion plants provide a desirable environment for beneficial organisms.
