Final answer:
Intercropping is the technique of growing different crops together, such as the 'three sisters' method where corn, beans, and squash are planted in proximity. These plants benefit each other, creating a sustainable farming system that optimizes their health and yield.
Step-by-step explanation:
The complete statement with the appropriate word is: Cover crops grown between or under a main crop are called intercropping. Intercropping is an agricultural technique where different crops are grown together in close proximity. For example, a commonly known intercropping practice is the 'three sisters' method used in Mesoamerica, where corn, beans, and squash are planted together. The corn provides the bean plants a structure to climb while the beans enrich the soil with nitrogen which aids the growth of other plants. Meanwhile, the squash spreads on the ground, blocking weeds and safeguarding the root systems of all the three crops. Thus, intercropping is a sustainable farming method, benefiting each plant's growth and optimizing their health and yield.
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