The three-sister agricultural practice involves which crops?

• A. Maize, beans, and squash
• B. Wheat, barley, rye
• C. Rice, soy, corn
• D. Potatoes, maize, quinoa

Answer: (A)

Three-sister agriculture is an intercropping system where maize, beans, and squash are grown together to support one another. Maize provides a tall stalk for beans to climb, saving space and giving the beans a structure to grow on. Beans fix nitrogen in the soil, boosting fertility for all three crops. Squash spreads along the ground with broad leaves that shade the soil, suppress weeds, and help retain moisture. Altogether, these crops offer a balanced diet—starch from maize, protein from beans, and nutrients from squash—while using land and nutrients efficiently. This practice has deep roots in Indigenous farming traditions of the Americas, showcasing how crops can be grown in a mutually beneficial, sustainable way. Other crop groupings don’t form this same cooperative pattern, because they pair different plants that aren’t integrated in the Three Sisters system.