What is the practice of growing different plants together for mutual benefits, such as pest control or improved growth?

The practice of growing different plants together for mutual benefits, such as pest control or improved growth, is known as companion planting. This technique is based on the idea that certain plant combinations can enhance each other’s growth and resilience. For instance, some plants can attract beneficial insects that help with pest control, while others might provide shade, support, or nutrients that improve the overall health and yield of neighboring plants.

Companion planting can help create a more balanced ecosystem within a garden, reducing the need for chemical pest control and improving soil health through the diversity of root systems and plant types. This strategy is particularly useful in sustainable gardening and organic farming, where the focus is on creating a harmonious environment for plant growth.

Other practices mentioned, such as crop rotation, involve alternating the types of crops grown in a particular area to prevent soil depletion and reduce pest buildup, but they do not entail planting different species together for mutual benefit. Monoculture farming refers to the cultivation of a single crop over an extensive area, leading to various agricultural problems due to lack of biodiversity. Hydroponics, on the other hand, is a soilless growing method that focuses on using nutrient-rich water, which does not inherently involve the synergistic relationships between different plant species seen