While it has cost-saving aspects, the intercropping practice does lead to more work. Farmers double their workload by seeding and harvesting two crops. However, they can mitigate this by selecting crops with different requirements and growing activity, or a pair that allows for easy harvest of both crops.
For instance, if a farmer intercropped "pea-ola" (peas and canola), they can harvest the crops together and, with just a little bit of work afterwards, separate them out easily.
Using crops that compete for different niches works the soil in a more thorough manner. Each crop will pull nutrients from a different pathway, so they don't compete for resources in the rhizosphere. This efficient uptake not only promotes optimal plant growth, but it promotes diversity in soil microorganisms.
Higher plant biodiversity leads to an increase in soil microbial activity that, in turn, promotes more efficient soil nutrient production. This cycle creates healthier soil, which your crops will appreciate.
The following article will dive further into intercropping and provide examples of strong crop pairings for southern Alberta.