GENERAL GUIDELINES:

This Module covers the whole prelim with four topic outlines based on the New normal
Syllabus A.Y. 2020-2021.
PRELIM EXAMINATION – September 7-8, 2020 (Tentative just wait for the final posting
and/or announcement)
The mode of instructions for PRELIM will be through Blended Learning Approach. Thus, we
will be using some e-learning like Facebook page, messenger and email.
You are required to make a PORTFOLIO for the PRELIM COVERAGE. In which all your
outputs in this module will be compiled and answered. Your Portfolio in Prelim Coverage shall
be collected 1 week before the PRELIM EXAMINATION.
FORMAT of the portfolio shall be given two weeks after the official classes will start which
will be on AUGUST 24, 2020.
MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW ALL THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN IN EVERY ACTIVITIES.
DON’T WRITE anything on this Module, WORKSHEET/ANSWERSHEET will be provided.
If ever you have questions or inquiries, clarification, DO NOT HESITATE to CONTACT your
instructor by the contact number/fb accounts/email given to you through the directory.
SOFT COPY OF THE MODULE WILL BE GIVEN THROUGH AN EMAIL OR
MESSENGER.
For students who can access Online platform via Google classroom
(https://classroom.google.com), Edmodo (https://new.edmodo.com) Easy Class
(https://www.easyclass.com/) etc. you can directly contact your course instructor via Fb
messenger or any mode of communication for thorough instruction.

CLASS RULES & REGULATIONS:

☺ You may contact your classmates and have a sharing of ideas and opinion with regards to
answering of your activities, assignments and assessments. However, PLEASE REFRAIN OR
AVOID COPYING WORD-FOR-WORD OUTPUD/ANSWER FROM YOUR
CLASSMATES AND FRIENDS. IF YOUR OUTPUT WILL BE CAUGHT HAVING THE
SAME ANSWER WITH YOUR PEERS. YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE GIVEN A
GRADE OF ZERO “0” FOR THAT ACTIVITY ONLY.
☺ You may contact your classmates and have a sharing of ideas and opinion with regards to
answering of your activities, assignments and assessments. However, PLEASE REFRAIN OR
AVOID COPYING WORD-FOR-WORD OUTPUD/ANSWER FROM YOUR
CLASSMATES AND FRIENDS. IF YOUR OUTPUT WILL BE CAUGHT HAVING THE
SAME ANSWER WITH YOUR PEERS. YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE GIVEN A
GRADE OF ZERO “0” FOR THAT ACTIVITY ONLY.
☺ Your output or portfolio will serve as your attendance for that given date.
☺ The DEADLIST DEADLINE of your PORTFOLIO shall be ONE (1) WEEK BEFORE the
scheduled PRELIM EXAMINATION.
☺ YOU MAY SEND YOUR PORTFOLIO THROUGH EMAIL (for those who has email
account) OR YOU MAY CONTACT YOUR INSTRUCTOR VIA TEXT/MESSENGER FOR
any means of SUBMISSION.
☺ The grading system shall be following the standard grading system of the University stipulated
in your student handbook.

LIBRARY ACCESS:

☺ Make an appointment to the Librarian first when accessing the Library or when going to
Campus.
☺ Message or Email the Library In-charge for making appointments through their contact
number, email account or Facebook that will be given below:
o Merry L. Plaza – Librarian
 Contact number: 09302473948
 Email address: plazamerry050@gmail.com
i
 o Dyna V. Aya-ay – Assistant Librarian
 Contact number: 09463014014
 Email address: ayaaydyna627@gmail.com
☺ To ensure the HEALTH of the students as well as the faculty and staff from COVID19, IATF
PROTOCOL MUST BE FOLLOWED UPON ENTERING THE SCHOOL PREMISES LIKE:
o Mandatory wearing of FACEMASK AND FACESHIELD
o Disinfecting your hands with alcohol and checking your body temperature by the
Security Guard In- charge.

ii
VISION

A leading “Glocal” University with widened academic perspectives that focus on attaining food
security, supporting poverty alleviation, developing renewable energy, and conserving natural
environment.

MISSION
SDSSU shall provide competency-based higher education training driven by relevant and
responsive instruction, research, extension and sustainable resource management.
Particularly, SDSSU is committed to:
1. Produce competent and skilled graduates prepared for gainful employment;
2. Develop graduates who shall not only foster economic progress but also care for the
environment, adhere to positive value system, and preserve cultural heritage;
3. Engage in high-impact research for instruction and develop technology for food security and
renewable energy;
4. Collaborate with government and non-government agencies to help improve the lives of the
marginalized groups; and
5. Promote cooperation/partnership among regional, national, and ASEAN institutions in Higher
Education.
Program Goals:
1. To produce quality and relevant education and training within the reach of the
low-income members of society
2. To provide students with entrepreneurial skills and trainings in the field of agri-
business, commercial sciences, information technology and
3. To produce graduates equipped with the necessary values, attitudes, knowledge
and skills

Program Intended Learning Outcomes: The graduates have the ability to:
a. Demonstrate broad and coherent knowledge and understanding in the core areas of
agriculture, forestry and fisheries.
b. Apply critical methods in increasing agri-aqua silvi pastural production and renewable
energy generation through an ecologically sound environment.
c. Interpret relevant scientific data and make a judgment that includes technical, relevant
findings and ethical issues.
d. Design and perform safe and responsible techniques and procedures in laboratory or field
practices.
e. Appreciate the limitations and implications of science in everyday life.
Program Outcomes to BSA Program
a. Exhibit comprehensive knowledge of various learning areas in Bachelor of Agricultural
Technology curriculum
b. Execute techniques, skills and utilize modern tools necessary for agricultural activities
c. Create and implement assessment tools and procedures to measure learning outcomes
for technical expertise and production.

iii
Course Name: FIELD CROPS AND CEREAL PRODUCTION
Course Code: PRACTICUM 1
Course Unit: 3 units
Course Description: This course deals with the study of field crops and cereal which includes
the production and management and other related practices. It provides knowledge about the
history, adaptation and cultivation of field crops and cereals cultivars. This course provides the
students in the principles and practices modern and conventional and other various approaches,
& sustainable parameters. The students are expected to have field exposure through actual
activities. Two hours lecture will be spent per week and 3 hours laboratory.

Pre-requisite/Co-requisite: Cropsci 1/soils 1

Contact Hours: 2 hours lecture/week
3 hours laboratory/week

Course Intended Learning Outcome:

1. Introduce the general overview of field crops and cereals (PO 1, 2, 3)
2. Discuss the different Classification of cereal and field crops(PO 1, 2, 3)
3. Enumerate and discuss the main classes of cereal and field crops according to the range
of cultivation. (PO 1, 2, 3)
4. Cite the common examples of field and cereal crops with scientific name(PO 1, 2, 3)
5. Enumerate and discuss the different classification of farming system. (PO 1, 2, 3)
6. Discuss the principles of Crop Rotation(PO 1, 2, 3)

4
Module 1
Intended Learning Outcomes
1. Introduce the general overview of field crops and cereals
2. Discuss the different Classification of cereal and field crops
3. Enumerate and discuss the main classes of cereal and field crops according to the range
of cultivation.
4. Cite the common examples of field and cereal crops with scientific name
5. Enumerate and discuss the different classification of farming system.
6. Discuss the principles of Crop Rotation

Introduction
“A man without food for three days will quarrel, for a week will fight and for a month or so will
die”. Agriculture is a branch of applied science. Agriculture is the science and art of farming
including cultivating the soil, producing crops and raising livestock. It is the most important
enterprise in the world.
Among all the branches of agriculture, agronomy occupies a pivotal position and is regarded as
the „mother‟ or „primary‟ branch. The word Agronomy has been derived from two Greek words
i.e., „agros’ meaning field and „nomos’ meaning to manage. Literally it means the art of
managing fields and technically it means the science and economics of crop production. In other
words it is the art and underlying science in production and improvement of field crops with the
efficient use of soil fertility, water, labor and other factors related to crop production. Agronomy
is the field of study and practice of ways and means of production of food, feed and fibre crops.
Thus, agronomy as a branch of agricultural sciences deals with principles and practices of field
management for the production of field crops.

Lesson 1: Classification of field crops

Classification
Classification of field crops is necessary to know the adaptation, habitat, life cycle, nutrient
requirement, insect-pest and disease reaction of crops, so that an appropriate production
technology could be developed and adopted for maximum productivity at minimum cost.
Crop plants are grouped into three main classes according to the range of cultivation.
They are as follows.
1. Garden Crops : Crop plants that are grown on a small scale in gardens such as kitchen
gardens, flower gardens and backyard gardens.
2. Plantation Crops : Crop plants that are grown on a larger scale on estates. They are
perennial or permanent in nature.
3. Field Crops : Crop plants that are grown on a vast scale. They are mostly seasonal.
Among these three classes agronomy deals with field crops only. Field crops are classified in
many ways. According to economic or agrarian or agricultural classification or classification
according to use of crop plants and their products, field crops are classified as follows.

5
 Fig: Classification of Field Crops.

I. Cereal Crops
A cereal is generally defined as a cultivated grass grown for their edible starchy grains. Bulk of
staple food crops all over the world comes from this group.

Fig: Classification of Cereal Crops.

A. Major Cereal Crops

In general,
the larger
grains are used
as staple
food is

considered as major cereals.

1. Paddy/Rice : Oryza sativa
2. Wheat : Triticum aestivum
3. Maize/Corn : Zea mays
4. Barley : Hordium vulgare
B. Millets
Millets are a group of small grained cereals which are of minor importance as food and
they have a single cover. Millets are further classified into two groups.
a) Major Millets
1. Sorghum
Great millet : Sorghum bicolor
2. Pearl millet: Pennisetum typhoides
3. Finger millet: Eleusine corcana

b) Minor Millets
1. Foxtail millet: Setaria italica
2. Little millet: Panicum milliare
3. Kodo millet: Paspalum scrobiculatum
4. Proso millet: Panicum millaceum
5. Barnyard millet: Echinochloa frumentaceae

II. Pulse Crops

6
Pulses are grain legumes used as food. On splitting they produce dal which is rich in protein.
They are regarded as building blocks of living organisms for high protein content.
These crops have the unique built in ability of fixing atmospheric nitrogen in their root system.

Fig: Classification of Pulse Crops

a) Grams
1. Red gram/Pigeon pea : Cajanus cajan
2. Chick pea : Cicer arietinum
3. Black gram: Phaseolus mungo/Vigna mungo
4. Green gram/Mung : Phaseolus aureus/Vigna radiata
5. Horse gram: Macrotyloma uniflorum
b) Beans
1. Soybean: Glysine max
2. Field bean: Dolichos lablab
3. French bean: Phaseolus vulgare
4. Lima bean/Double bean: Phseolus lunatus
5. Winged bean: Psophocorpus tetragonolobus
6. Cluster bean: Cyamopsis tetragonoloba
7. Moth bean: Vigna aconitifolia
c) Peas
1. Pea: Pisum sativum
2. Cow pea: Vigna unguiculata/V. sinensis

III. Oil Seed Crops

Oil seed crops are grown for the purpose of oil. The seeds of these crops are rich in fatty acids
and are used to extract vegetable oil to meet edible oil, industrial and plant protection
requirements.

7
 Fig: Classification of oil seed Crops

a) Edible Oil Seed Crops

1. Ground nut/Pea nut: Arachis hypogaea
2. Soybean: Glysine max
3. Sunflower: Helianthus annus
4. Safflower: Carthamus tinctorius
5. Sesamum : Sesamum orientale
6. Niger: Guizotia abyssinica
7. Mustard: Brassica juncea
8. Rape: Brassica campestris

b) Non Edible Oil Seed Crops

1. Linseed/Flax: Linum usitatisium
2. Castor: Recinus comunis
3. Cotton: Gossypium hirsutum

IV. Fibre Crops

These plants are grown for extraction of fibres which are mainly used for clothing, rope making,
carpet making and other purposes.

Fig: Classification of fiber Crops

a) Fruit Fibres
1. Cotton : Gossypium hirsutum
2. Silk cotton : Ceiba pentandra

b) Stem/Stalk/Bast Fibres
1. Jute : Corchorus capsularis
2. Mesta : Hibiscus cannabinus
3. Ramei : Boemeria nivea
4. Roselle : Hibiscus sabdariffa
5. Linseed /flax : Linum usitatisamum

c) Leaf Fibres/ Hard Fibres

1. Sisal : Agave sisalana
2. Henequan : Agava fourcroydes
3. Manila hemp : Musa textiles

8
V. Sugar Crops
Crops are grown for the production of sugars and starch.
1. Sugarcane : Sacharum officinarum
2. Sugarbeet : Beta vulgaris

VI. Commercial Crops

In these crops, more than 75 per cent of the product is for trade but not for home
consumption.
1. Sugarcane: Saccharum officinarum
2. Cotton: Gossypium hirsututm
3. Tobacco: Nicotiana tabacum
4. Jute: Carchorus capsularis
5. Potato: Solanum tubersosum
6. Chilli : Capsicum annum
7. Betelvine : Piper betel
8. Mulberry : Morus alba

VII. Forage Crops

Forage crops refer to vegetative matter, fresh or preserved, utilized as feed for animals. It
includes fodder, hay, silage and pastures.

a) Annuals Fig: Classification of forage Crops

i) Cereal Fodders
1. Maize: Zea mays
2. Jowar : Sorghum bicolar
3. Bajra : Pennisetum typhoides
4. Barley: Hardium vulgare
5. Oats: Avena sativa
6. Mustard: Brassica oleracea
7. Deenabandhu : Pennisetum pedicillatum
ii) Legume Fodders
1. Cowpea: Vigna unguiculata/V. sinensis
2. Horse gram: Dolichos biflorus
3. Lucerne/Alfa alfa : Medicago sativa
4. Cluster bean/Guar: Cyamopsis tetragonaloba
5. Berseem : Trifolium alexandrium
6. Rice bean : Phaseolus calcaratus
7. Lupins : Lupinus lupins
b) Perennials
1. Rhodes : Chloris gayana
2. Green panic : Panicum maximum cv trichoglume

9
 3. Guinea : Panicum maximum
4. Setaria : Setaria anceps
5. Para : Bracharia mutica
6. Napier : Pennisetum purpureum
7. Signal : Bracharia brizantha
8. Sudan : Sorghum sudanensis
c) Pasture Grasses
1. Anjan : Cenchrus ciliaris
2. Dawalu : Chrysopogon fulvis
3. Marvel : Dicantheum annulatum
4. Pavan : Sehima nervosum
5. Spear : Heteropogon contentus
6. Dhallis : Paspalum notatum
d) Forage Legumes
1. Stylo: Stylosanthes hamata
2. Glycine: Glysine weightii
3. Centro: Centrosema pubescence
4. Calapo : Calapogonium muconoides
5. Glycine: Glysine weightii
6. Green leaf: Desmodium intortum
7. Silver leaf: Desmodium unicatum
e) Forage Climbers
1. Winged bean: Psorocarpus tetragonoloba
2. Velvet bean: Styzolobium deerengianum
3. Dolichos : Dolichos lablab
f) Top Feeds/Browse Plants
1. Agase : Sesbania grandiflora
2. Sesbania/Shevri : S. aegyptica
3. Subabul : Leucana leucocephala
4. Mulberry : Morus alba
5. Erythrina/Harivana : Erythrina indica

VIII. Green Manure Crops

Green manure crops are those crops which are used for incorporating their plant tissues into the
soil for improving the soil productivity.

Fig: Classification of Green Manure Crops.

a) In-Situ Green Manure Crops

10
Green manure crops are grown and incorporated in to the soil of the same field in which it is
grown.

i) Leguminous green manure crops

1. Sunnhemp : Crotalaria juncea
2. Daincha : Sesbania aculeata
3. Sesbania : Sesbania speciosa
4. Indigo : Indigofera tinctoria
5. Wild Indigo : Tephrosia purpurea
6. Cow pea : Vigna unguiculata/V. sinensis
7. Green gram/Mung : Phaseolus aureus/Vigna radiata
8. Black gram: Phaseolus mungo/Vigna mungo
9. Horse gram : Macrotyloma uniflorum
10. Cluster bean: Cyamopsis tetragonaloba
11. Berseem : Trifolium alexandrium

ii) Non-leguminous green manure crops

Crops like maize, barley and oats can be used as green manure crops.

b) Ex-situ Green Manure Crops /Green Leaf Manure Crops

Green leaves are collected from all the available sources and incorporating them in the soil.
1. Glyrcidia : Glyrcidia maculata
2. Subabul : Leucaena leucocephala
3. Agase : Sesbania grandiflora
4. Pongamia : Pongamia glabra
5. Eupatorium : Chromolaena odorata
6. Neem : Melia azadiracta
7. Cassia : Cassia siamea
8. Ipomea : Ipomoea carnea
9. Yekka : Calotropis gigantia
Synthesis

What have you learnt?

1. Agriculture is a branch of applied science.

2. Agriculture is the science and art of farming including cultivating
the soil, producing crops and raising livestock. It is the most
important enterprise in the world.
3. Agronomy is one of the most important branch of agriculture
4. Cereal is generally defined as a cultivated grass grown for their
edible starchy grains. Bulk of staple food crops all over the world
comes from this group.
5. Pulses are grain legumes used as food. On splitting they produce dal
which is rich in protein.
6. Forage crops refer to vegetative matter, fresh or preserved, utilized
as feed for animals. It includes fodder, hay, silage and pastures.
7. Green manure crops are those crops which are used for
incorporating their plant tissues into the soil for improving the soil
productivity.
11
8. Crops like maize, barley and oats can be used as green manure
crops.
9. Green leaves are collected from all the available sources and
 Lesson 1 Assessment of learning

A. Multiple choice

Direction: Choose and encircle the letter of the correct answer

1. Is the science and art of farming c. Vegetable crops
including cultivating the soil, d. Plantation crops
producing crops and raising 7. Crop plants that are grown on a vast
livestock? scale. They are mostly seasonal?
a. Agriculture a. Backyard crops
b. Agronomy b. Garden crops
c. Horticulture c. Vegetable crops
d. Botany d. Field crops
2. What branch of agriculture does the 8. Is generally defined as a cultivated
cereal belong? grass grown for their edible starchy
a. Forestry grains.
b. Agronomy a. Vegetables
c. Horticulture b. Cereals
d. Plant breeding c. Root crops
3. What is the number one cultivated d. Pulse crops
cereal in the world? 9. Barley is an annual crop belongs to
a. Rice poacea family and scientifically
b. Corn known as.
c. Sorghum a. Oryza sativa
d. Wheat b. Triticum aestivum
4. The most important branch of c. Zea mays
agriculture and also known as d. Hordium vulgare
mother‟ or „primary‟ branch? 10. Wheat is an annual crops belongs to
a. Forestry poacea family and scientifically
b. Agronomy known as.
c. Horticulture a. Oryza sativa
d. Plant breeding b. Triticum aestivum
5. Agronomy is derived from two c. Zea mays
Greek words Agros and Nomos d. Hordium vulgare
which means? 11. Paddy is unprocessed part whereas,
a. Field management rice is the one which is processed
b. Farm cultivation from paddy.
c. Crop production a. The statement is true
d. Cereal production b. The statement is false
6. Crop plants that are grown on a c. The statement is true but false
small scale in gardens such as d. The statement is vague
kitchen gardens, flower gardens and 12. Cereals are member of what family.
backyard. a. Poaceae
a. Backyard crops b. Fabaceae
b. Garden crops c. Araceae
d. Musaceae

B. Scientific names of field crops

Direction: Give the scientific name of the following field crops in a nomenclature way e.g.
Orayza sativa

1. Wheat 1.

12
 2. Barley 2.
3. Oat 3.
4. Rye 4.
5. Triticale 5.
6. Maize, Corn 6.
7. Forage, Grain and Broomcorn 7.
8. Soybean 8.
9. Peanut 9.
10. Canola, Mustard 10.
11. Meadow Foxtail 11.
12. Brome 12.
13. Orchard Grass 13.
14. Fescue 14.
15. `Rye Grass 15.
16. Alfalfa, Yellow Trefoil 16.
17. White, Red and Alsike Clovers 17.
18. Birdsfoot Trefoil 18
19. Vetch 19.
20. Alfalfa, Yellow Trefoil 20.

C. Common names of field crops

Direction: Give the common name of the following field crops

1. Phaseolus lunatus
2. Phaseolus mung
3. Phaseolus angularis
4. Cicer arietinum
5. Pisum spp.
6. Lens spp.
7. Vicia faba
8. Alopecurus pratensis
9. Bromus spp.
10. Dactylis glomerata
11. Festuca spp.
12. Lolium spp.
13. Phalaris arundinacea
14. Poa pratensis
15. Phleum pratense
16. Medicago spp.
17. Trifolium spp.
18. Lotus corniculatus
19. Vicia spp.
20. Medicago spp.

D. Field crops word puzzle

13
Direction: Find and encircle the twenty (20) field crops name below then list it down.

1._____________________________

2._____________________________
3._____________________________
4._____________________________
5. ____________________________
6. ____________________________
7. ____________________________
8. ____________________________
9. ____________________________
10. ___________________________
11. ___________________________
12. ___________________________
13. ___________________________
14. ___________________________
15. ___________________________
16. ___________________________
17. ___________________________
18. ___________________________
19. ___________________________
20. ___________________________

14
 Activity
A. Draw your cereal and pulse plant
Direction: Look for cereal and grain or pulse plants near your home and draw it with
parts based on their natural morphological structure.

Pulse Plant
Cereal Plant

Lesson 2: Cropping system

15
Cropping system is a pattern of crops for a given piece of land or the order in which the crops are
cultivated on a piece of land over a fixed period of time.

Methods of Cropping

I. Monocropping/Sole Cropping: One crop or variety is grown alone in pure stands at normal
density season after season or year after year in the same field.

Fig: Mono Cropping

II. Multiple Cropping: Cultivation of two or more crops on the same piece of land in a year.
The intensification of cropping is in terms of time and space dimensions. Multiple cropping
systems can be classified as follows.
A. Sequential cropping
B. Intercropping
C. Mixed cropping

A. Sequential Cropping: Growing of two or more crops in sequence on the same piece of land
in the same year. The succeeding crop is planted or sown only after harvest of the preceding
crop. The crop intensification is only in terms of time dimension. Farmers will manage only one
crop at a time.

Types of Sequential Cropping

1. Double Cropping: Cultivation of two crops in succession on a piece of land in a year.
2. Triple Cropping: Cultivation of three crops in succession on a piece of land in a year.
3. Quadruple Cropping: Cultivation of four crops in succession on a piece of land in a year.
4. Ratoon Cropping/Ratooning: Cultivation of crop re-growth after its harvest is rationing. It is
also a type of sequential cropping. In this, more than one harvest is done from one
sowing/planting. Thus, ratooning consists of allowing stubbles of the original crop after
harvesting and to raise another crop.

16
 Fig: Sugarcane Crop for Ratooning.
B. Intercropping: Growing two or more crops simultaneously on the same piece of land. Crop
intensification is in terms of both time and space dimensions.

Main Crop/Base Crop: It is one which is planted at its optimum population in an intercrop
situation and the second crop is planted in between the rows of main or base crop, with a view to
obtain some extra inter crop yield without sacrificing the main or base crop yield.

Fig: Main Crop and intercrop.

Intercrop: The short duration crop is raised in widely spaced crop for getting an additional
income from the same piece of land.

Component Crop: It is used to refer either of the individual crops making the intercropping
situation.

Benefits of Intercropping
1. Better utilization growth resources like light, nutrients and moisture.
2. Economy in space and time.
3. Suppression of weeds.
4. Serves as insurance against failure of any one of the component crops.
5. Reduces soil crust formation.
6. Improves soil fertility.
7. Ecological stability.
8. Controlling of soil erosion.
9. Serves as physical support or shading to some crops.
10. Additional yield from unit area.
11. Additional income.
12. Provides farmer’s daily needs.
13. Provides employment and distribution of labor.
14. Cultivation practices for main crop supplement the requirement of companion crop.
15. Control of pests and diseases.

17
Limitations of Intercropping

1. Labor intensive.
2. Differential maturity and problem of
harvesting.
3. Serves as alternate hosts for pests and
diseases.
4. Control of pests, diseases and weeds is
difficult.
5. Problem for intercultural operations.
6. Mechanization is difficult.
7. Competitive effects among component crops.
8. Allelopathic effect.

Criteria for Selection of Crops for

Intercropping System
Care should be taken to select the crops with different growth habits, root growth,
duration and families. The following points to be considered while selecting crops for
intercropping system.
1. Tall growing crops with short growing crops.
2. Bushy crops with erect growing crops.
3. Fast growing crops with slow growing crops.
4. Deep rooted crops with shallow rooted crops.
5. Short duration crops with long duration
crops.
6. Legume crops with non-legume crops.
7. Crops should have least allelopathic effect.
8. Crops selected should be of different
families to avoid pests and diseases.

Types of Intercropping
1. Mixed Intercropping/Mixed
Cropping: Growing of two or more crops
simultaneously on the same piece of land with no distinct row arrangement.
2. Row Intercropping: Growing of two or more crops simultaneously on the same piece of land
with distinct row arrangement. It is simply referred as ‘intercropping’.

Fig: Row Intercropping.

3. Patch Intercropping: Growing of two or more crops simultaneously on the same piece of
land in patches.

4. Strip Intercropping: Growing of two or more crops simultaneously on the same piece of land
in strips wide enough to permit independent cultivation.

18
5. Relay Intercropping/Relay Cropping: Growing of two or more crops simultaneously on the
same piece of land during the part of life cycle of each. The second crop is planted after the first
crop has reached its reproductive stage of growth but before it is ready

Fig: Relay Intercropping.

19
6. Parallel Intercropping/Parallel Cropping: Growing of two or more crops which have
different growth habits and which have a zero competition between each other and both of them
express their full yield potential.

Fig: Parallel Intercropping.

7. Multi Storied Intercropping/Multi Storied Cropping: Growing of two or more crops of
different heights on the same field at the same time. It is commonly practiced in orchard and
plantation crops for harvest.

Fig: Multi Storied Intercropping.

8. Alley Intercropping/Alley Cropping: Food crops are grown in alleys formed by hedge or
shrubs or trees. It is an agro-forestry system.

9.

Fig: Alley Intercropping.

Guard Crops: The main crop is grown in the center, surrounded by hardy or thorny crops.
These crops protect the main crop.

20
10. Trap Crops: These crops are grown in the main cropped field in definite rows to trap insect
pests.

Fig: Trap Crop.

11. Filler Cropping: Growing of short duration crops in between the newly established
perennial crops for few years to fill the space and to utilize the resources.

Fig: Filler Cropping.

C. Mixed Cropping Growing of two or more crops together on the same piece of land is called
as mixed cropping. In this, the seeds of different crops are mixed together and then sown either
in lines or they are bored casted. This system is not scientific and it causes problem in
performing all agricultural operations and harvesting of crops. This system of cropping is
generally practiced in areas where climatic hazards such as flood, drought, frost etc. are frequent
and common. The farmers always fear that their crops will fail. The time of sowing of all the
crops is same; however they may mature either together or at different times.
CROP ROTATION Growing of different crops alternatively on the same piece of land in a
definite sequence or process of growing different crops in succession on a piece of land in a
specific period of time with an objective to get maximum profit from least investment without
impairing the soil fertility.

21
Principles of Crop Rotation Fig: crop rotation
1. The crops with tap roots should be followed by those with fibrous root system. This helps in
proper and uniform use of nutrients from the soil.
2. The leguminous crops should be grown after non-leguminous crops. Legumes fix atmospheric
nitrogen in the soil and add more organic matter to the soil.
3. More exhaustive crops should be followed by less exhaustive crops.
4. The crop of the same family should not be grown in succession because they act like alternate
hosts for pests and diseases.
5. An ideal crop rotation is one which provides maximum employment to the family and farm
labor, farm machineries and equipments are efficiently used.
6. Selection of the crop should be demand based.
7. The selection of crops should be problem based.
8. The selection of crops should suit to the farmer’s financial conditions.
9. The crops selected should also suit to the soil and climate conditions.

Benefits of Crop Rotation

1. Beneficial to succeeding crops.
2. Soil fertility is restored by fixing atmospheric nitrogen.
3. Encourages soil microbial activity.
4. Improves physico-chemical properties of the soil.
5. Avoids accumulation of toxins (HCN etc.).
6. Soil is protected from erosion.
7. Controls pests and diseases.
8. Controls weeds in the fields.
9. The family and farm labor, power, equipment and machineries are well employed.
10. Differential extraction of nutrients and moisture from different depths.
11. Proper utilization of all the resources and inputs.

Limitations of Crop Rotation

1. Specialization in one crop is not possible.
2. Requirement of equipments and machineries varies from crop to crop.
3. Allopathic effect of preceding crop.
4. Serves as alternate hosts for pests and diseases.

22
 Synthesis

What have you learnt?

1. Mono cropping is one crop or variety is grown alone in pure stands at normal
density season after season or year after year in the same field.
2. Cropping system is a pattern of crops for a given piece of land or the order in
which the crops are cultivated on a piece of land over a fixed period of time.
3. Multiple Cropping is cultivation of two or more crops on the same piece of land
in a year. The intensification of cropping is in terms of time and space
dimensions. Multiple cropping systems can be classified as follows.
4. Component Crop: It is used to refer either of the individual crops making the
intercropping situation.
5. Relay Intercropping/Relay Cropping: Growing of two or more crops
simultaneously on the same piece of land during the part of life cycle.
6. Guard Crops the main crop is grown in the center, surrounded by hardy or thorny
crops. These crops protect the main crop.
7. Mixed Cropping Growing of two or more crops together on the same piece of
land is called as mixed cropping.
8. Crop rotation growing of different crops alternatively on the same piece of land in
a definite sequence or process of growing different crops in succession on a piece
of land in a specific period of time with an objective to get maximum profit from
least investment without impairing the soil fertility.

23
 Assessment of learning

A. Multiple choice
Direction: Choose and encircle the letter of the correct answer
1. If you have to plant two or more crops c. Contour farming
simultaneously in which the second crop is d. terracing
planted after the first crop has reached its
reproductive stage of growth, what 6. Planting of hedgerows along the contour
intercropping pattern is used? with agricultural crops in between
a. relay intercropping hedgerows best describes
c. strip intercropping a. Contour system
b. mixed intercropping b. alley cropping
d. row intercropping c. Sorjan system
d. rice garden
2. A complex mixture of trees and crops of
different canopy height and shapes in mixed 7. Planting and raising of wooden perennials
or row intercropping is employed is known together with agricultural crops or livestock
as is done in
a. intercropping a. alley cropping
b. multistorey cropping b. Contour farming
c. relay cropping c. Agroforestry
d. Monocropping d. Sorjan system

3. Row spacing and plant arrangement is 8. A crop production system in which more
important in multiple cropping. Which of than one crop is grown in a piece of land in
these multiple cropping systems greatly one year.
consider this factor? a. Monocropping
a. intercropping b. Sole cropping
b. relay cropping c. Multiple cropping
c. sequential cropping d. Contour cropping
d. alley cropping
9. A production system, which is relatively
4. A continuous planting of rice in small stable due to the presence of several species.
garden at regular interval and continuous a. Sole cropping
harvesting is called b. Multiple cropping
a. Sorjan c. Cropping system
b. diverse cropping d. Ratoon cropping
c. rice garden
d. mixed cropping 10. In crop rotation, the cereal crop is
generally followed by:
5. If you are to farm a hilly area, which of a. A cereal crop
the technology listed below is NOT b. A legume crop
appropriate? c. A root crop
a. Sorjan cropping d. Cereal crop and root crop
b. Alley cropping

24
Essay writing
A. Despite being one of the agriculture nation, our country still has a large section of
population going hungry and malnourished. Do you think an efficient crop production
mechanism is the only solution to this? Discuss what else needs to be done to root out
hunger and malnutrition from our country. Relate your answer with cropping system.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Your discussion will be graded based on this rubric.
Criteria 3 points 2 points 1 points 0 point
There is one
clear, well
There is one clear,
focused topic.
well focused topic. There is one
Main
Main ideas are topic. Main
ideas are clear The topic and
Focus & clear and are well ideas are
but are main ideas are
Details supported by somewhat
not well not clear.
detailed and clear.
supported by
accurate
detailed
information.
information.

2 points 1.5 point 1 point 0 point

The introduction is
inviting, states the
main The
topic, and provides introduction
an overview of the states The
There is no
Paper. Information the main topic introduction
Organization is clear
and provides states the
introduction,
relevant and an overview of main topic. A
structure,
presented the paper. A conclusion is
or conclusion
In a logical order. conclusion is included
The included.
Conclusion is
strong.
.

Activity

25
A. Miniature Cropping system
Direction: Sketch your desired farming system.

26
 References
 ANONYMOUS (2020), Hand Book of Agriculture, Indian Council for Agricultural
 Research, New Delhi.

 CHATTERJEE, B.N. (1993), Cropping System, Oxford & IBH Publ. Co., New Delhi.

 DIXIT, R.X., (2007). Cropping System Research, Kalyani publishers.

 GOPAL CHANDRA DE.(2008),Fundamentals of Agronomy, Oxford & IBH Publ.

Co.,New Delhi.

 CHHIDDA SINGH, (1983), Modern Techniques of Raising Field Crops, Oxford & IBH
Publ. Co., New Delhi.

 RATHORE, P.S., (2002), Techniques and Management of Field Crop Production,

Agrobios (India), Jodhpur.

 Curt, J. (2010). Hayes' Handbook of Agronomy (Third Edition) Pages 1139-1155

https://www.sciencedirect.com
 Lynn W.S, Lyndi P.J et al., (2013). Corn an Amazing Plant: Food, Fuel, and Plastic.
https://www.agclassroom.org/teacher/matrix/lessonplan.cfm?
lpid=141&author_state=0&search_term_lp=maize
 Agronomy (2020, August 24). In Wikipedia. Retrieved from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agronomy
 Cereal (2020, August 26). In Wikipedia. Retrieved from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cereal

27