Cropping pattern refers to the proportion of land under cultivation of different crops at different points of time. This indicates the time and arrangement of crops in a particular land area. Any change in the cropping pattern would cause:
In India, the cropping pattern is determined by rainfall, temperature, climate, technology and soil type.
In order to obtain maximum yields, different patterns of cropping are practised. The major cropping patterns include the following:
Monocropping
Monocropping reduces soil fertility and destroys the structure of the soil. Chemical fertilizers are required to upgrade production. This practice allows the spread of pests and diseases.
Mixed Cropping
When two or more crops are grown on the same land simultaneously, it is known as mixed cropping. For eg., growing wheat and gram on the same land at the same time is mixed cropping. This practice minimizes the risk of failure of one of the crops and insures against crop failure due to abnormal weather conditions.
The crops to be grown together should have a different maturation time and different water requirements. One tall and one dwarf crop should be grown together. The nutrients required by one crop should be less than those required by the other. One crop should have deep roots, other’s should be shallow. All these criteria lead to a successful mixed cropping pattern.
Advantages of Mixed Cropping
The crop yield increases.
The pest infestation is minimized.
Reduction in the risk of crop failure.
The soil is utilized properly.
More than one variety of crops can be harvested at the same time.
Intercropping
Intercropping is the practice of growing more than one crop on the same field at the same time in a definite row pattern. After one row of the main crop, three rows of intercrops can be grown. This increases productivity per unit area.
Intercropping can be of different types:
Row Intercropping
When the component crops are arranged in alternate rows it is known as row intercropping. It helps in optimum utilization of land space and suppression of weeds during the early stages of the main crop.
Strip Intercropping
When two or more crops are grown in wide strips so that the two crops can be managed separately, it is known as strip cropping. However, the crops are close enough to interact.
Relay Intercropping
In this type of intercropping, a second crop is planted when the existed crop has flowered but not harvested. For eg., Rice-Cauliflower-Onion-Summer gourds.
Advantages of Intercropping
The fertility of the soil is maintained.
The spread of diseases and pests is controlled.
Optimum utilization of resources.
The space and time of growing more than one crop are saved.
Maximum utilization of nutrients present in the soil.
Maize and soybean, bajra and lobea are some of the crops grown as intercrops.
Crop Rotation
In this pattern, different crops are grown on the same land in preplanned succession. The crops are classified as one-year rotation, two-year rotation, and three-year rotation, depending upon their duration.
Legumes are included in the crop rotation programme to increase soil fertility. The crops which require high fertility level (wheat) can be grown after the legumes. The crops which require low inputs can be grown after the crops that require high inputs.
How are the crops selected for Rotation?
While selecting the crops for rotation, the following criteria should be adopted:
Enough moisture should be available.
Availability of fertilizers, man-power, and machine-power.
Marketing and processing facilities.
Availability of nutrients in the soil.
The crop duration- short or long.
Advantages of Crop Rotation
The soil fertility is maintained for a prolonged period.
The growth of weeds and pests is prevented.
A lot of chemical fertilizers are not required.
The physical and chemical nature of the soil remains unaltered.
Factors Affecting Cropping Patterns
The cropping patterns determine the level of agricultural production. This reflects the agricultural economy of any region.
The cropping patterns are affected by changes in agrarian policy, availability of agricultural inputs, improvement in technology.
Thus, the cropping patterns are beneficial in improving the fertility of the soil, thereby, increasing the yield of the crops. It ensures crop protectionand availability of nutrients to the crops.
To know more about Cropping Patterns, keep visiting BYJU’S website or download BYJU’S app for further reference.
Related Links
| Crop Protection and Weeding |
| Irrigation |
FAQs
Inter-cropping and mixed cropping ensures maximum utilization of the nutrients in the soil and prevent the spread of pests and diseases from completing field crops. In Crop rotation practices, different crops are grown on the same land in a planned succession manner.
What is mixed cropping and intercropping and crop rotation? ›
Crop rotation entails growing different crop varieties on the same land in sequential seasons. Mixed farming is a farming system that combines crop cultivation with livestock raising. Intercropping involves cultivating two or more crops simultaneously on the same field.
What are three cropping patterns? ›
Cropping Patterns-Mixed Cropping, Intercropping, Crop Rotation.
What are the different crop patterns? ›
The cropping patterns in India include mixed cropping (wheat + mustard, cotton + soybean), crop rotation (rice/wheat + maize + sugarcane, rice + red gram), intercropping (cotton + groundnut, paddy + black gram), multiple cropping (wheat + rice, aman paddy + jute), and sole cropping (wheat, sugarcane, tobacco).
What is the cropping method? ›
The term cropping system refers to the crops, crop sequences and management techniques used on a particular agricultural field over a period of years. It includes all spatial and temporal aspects of managing an agricultural system.
What is an example of an intercropping crop? ›
An example of a perennial-annual intercropping match is garlic and tomatoes. In tropical regions, coffee and banana make a popular perennial combination. Regarding the time of seeding, plants are sown either at the same time or when other species are already flowering or ready for harvesting.
What is mixed cropping and give two examples? ›
Mixed cropping is growing two or more crops simultaneously on the same piece of land. For example, wheat + gram, or wheat + mustard, or groundnut + sunflower.
What is an example of a crop rotation pattern? ›
A good example of a three-year rotation includes growing beans (year 1), followed by tomatoes (year 2), and sweet corn (year 3) before planting beans in the same spot again the following year. The best way to ensure proper rotation is by having multiple separated garden plots or beds.
What is three crops rotation? ›
This meant farmers had to break their holdings into three fields -- one to be planted with wheat or rye in the fall, for human consumption; a second to be used in the spring to raise peas, beans, and lentils for human use and oats and barley for the horses. The third field lay fallow.
What is meant by inter cropping? ›
Intercropping is a multiple cropping practice involving growing two or more crops in proximity. The most common goal of intercropping is to produce a greater yield on a given piece of land by making use of resources or ecological processes that would otherwise not be utilized by a single crop.
Crop rotation is the practice of growing a series of different types of crops in the same area across a sequence of growing seasons. This practice reduces the reliance of crops on one set of nutrients, pest and weed pressure, along with the probability of developing resistant pests and weeds.
What is the difference between row intercropping and strip intercropping? ›
Types of intercropping practices
Row intercropping is the cultivation of two or more crops simultaneously on the same field with a row arrangement. Strip cropping is the cultivation of different crops in alternate strips of uniform width and on the same field.
What are the most common cropping systems? ›
The traditionally used cropping systems are monoculture, intercropping, crop rotation, fallow systems, shifting cultivation, strip cropping, multiple cropping, contour strip cropping, and cover crops.
What is the difference between intercropping and mixed cropping? ›
Mixed cropping is a cropping method in which two or even more crops are planted and cultivated simultaneously on the same land. On the other hand, intercropping is a kind of crop cultivation in which 2 distinct types of products are grown and farmed in a specific pattern within the same plot of land.
What is cropping and rotating? ›
cropping :-cropping means cutting part of image and results in some of the pixels being discarded . rotating :-it you want to change orientation then you can rotate image from left to right or right to left.
What was the crop rotation method? ›
Crop rotation, planting a different crop on a particular piece of land each growing season, is required in organic crop production because it is such a useful tool in preventing soil dis- eases, insect pests, weed problems, and for building healthy soils.
What is the main benefit of both intercropping and crop rotation? ›
Better for the environment
Crop rotation and intercropping methods increase the health of your soil, improving fertility without the use of fertilizers, making your farm better for you and the environment.
What is the difference between strip cropping and intercropping? ›
Row intercropping is the cultivation of two or more crops simultaneously on the same field with a row arrangement. Strip cropping is the cultivation of different crops in alternate strips of uniform width and on the same field.
