System and method for intercrop planting

A field planting system for planting seeds of a first plant genotype and seeds of a second plant genotype in a field, the field planting system comprising:

• a multi-variety planter operable to plant the seeds of the first plant genotype and the seeds of the second plant genotype in the field, the multi-variety planter including a central frame member, a press wheel, and a depth control actuator operable to adjust a position of the press wheel relative to the central frame member;
• and
• a controller in operable communication with the multi-variety planter, the controller configured to
• receive georeferenced field information for the field and plant information for the first plant genotype and the second plant genotype,
• generate a planting map for the field based on the georeferenced field information and the plant information, the planting map including a planting pattern for interplanting the seeds of the first plant genotype and the second plant genotype,
• monitor a location of the multi-variety planter in the field,
• control the multi-variety planter to plant the seeds of the first plant genotype and the seeds of the second plant genotype in the field according to the planting map, and
• control the multi-variety planter to vary a planting depth of the seeds of the first plant genotype and the seeds of the second plant genotype via the depth control actuator by successively planting along a row in the field a first seed of the first plant genotype at a first depth a second seed of the second plant genotype at a second depth different than the first depth.

A method of planting an intercrop in a field with a multi-variety planter, the multi-variety planter including a central frame member, a press wheel, and a depth control actuator operable to adjust a position of the press wheel relative to the central frame member, the method comprising:

• receiving georeferenced field information for the field and plant information for a first plant genotype and a second plant genotype;
• generating a planting map for the field based on the georeferenced field information and the plant information, the planting map including a planting pattern for interplanting seeds of the first plant genotype and seeds of the second plant genotype along at least two adjacent rows according to a repeatable pattern, the repeatable pattern including, for at least one row of the at least two adjacent rows, at least one seed of the first plant genotype and at least one seed of the second plant genotype;
• monitoring a location of the multi-variety planter in the field;
• and
• planting the seeds of the first plant genotype and the seeds of the second plant genotype in the field via the multi-variety planter and according to the planting map.