Cropping System
Cropping system,
Cropping pattern,
Multiple cropping and mixed cropping principles and
advantages,
Intercropping types and advantages and assessment.
Relay cropping,
Paira cropping and crop interactions.
Important terminology
Farming system
Cropping system
Cropping pattern
Mono cropping/ monoculture
Double Cropping
Triple cropping
Quadruple cropping
Sole cropping
Mixed cropping
Crop Mixtures or Mixed Cropping
It is the process of growing two or more crops together in the
same piece of land simultaneously.
The cereals (viz. Jowar or Bajra) are usually mixed with
legumes (tur, urd, mung, kulthi or horsegram).
Wheat is mixed with peas, gram or mustard; cotton is grown
mixed with tur or sunflower.
The objectives are:
1) To get handy installments of cash returns especially in irrigated
crops,
2) To achieve better distribution of labour throughout the year,
3) To utilize available space & nutrients to maximum extent
possible,
4) To safe guard against hazards of weather, diseases & pests,
5) To secure daily requirements like pulses, oilseeds, fibers, etc.
6) To get balanced cattle feed.
In order to obtain the maximum benefit from the subsidiary crop
mixed with the main crop, it should have the following
characteristics: It should
i) Not obstruct the growth of the main crop,
ii) Mature earlier or later than of the main crop,
iii) Preferably be a legume,
iv) Have different growth habits & nutrient requirements,
v) Have different rooting depths
Types of cropping systems:
1) Monocropping/ monoculture: It refers to growing of only one crop on
a piece of land year after year. It may be due to climatologically, socio-
economic conditions or due to specialization of a farmer in growing a
particular crop. E.g.: Rice cultivation in A.P.
2) Multiple cropping: Growing two or more crops on the same piece of
land in one calendar year is known as multiple crops.
3) Sequential cropping: It is growing of two or more crops in a sequence
where the succeeding crop in planted after the harvest of the preceding
crop.
4) Relay Cropping: It refers to planting of succeeding crop before
harvesting the preceding crop like a relay race where a crop hands over the
land to next crop in quick succession.
5) Ratoon cropping: Ratoon cropping or rattooning refers to revising a
crop with regrowth coming out of roots or stalks after harvest of the crop.
E.g.: Sugarcane or Jowar rattooning.
6) Intercropping
Intercropping is the cultivation of two or more crops simultaneously on the same
field with a distinct row arrangement.
It also means the growing of two or more crops on the same field with the planting
of the second crop after the first one has completed its development.
The logic behind intercropping is that the different crops planted are unlikely to
share the same insect pests and diseased-causing pathogens and to conserve the soil.
Based on the percent of plant population used for each crop in inter crop’s system,
it is divided into two types viz. additive series and replacement series.
a. Additive series: In this one crop is sown with 100% of its recommended
population in pure stand which is known as the base crop. Another crop is known as
intercrop, is introduced into the base Crop by adjusting or changing crop geometry.
The population of intercrop is less than its recommended population in pure stand.
b. Replacement series: In these both, the crops are called component crops. By
scarifying certain proportion of population of one component, another crop
introduced.
Advantages
1. Reduces the insect pest populations because of the diversity of the crops
grown. When other crops are present in the field, the insect/mite pests are
confused and they need more time to look for their favorite plants.
2. Reduces the plant diseases. The distance between plants of the same species is
increased because other crops (belonging to a different family group) are
planted in between.
3. Reduces hillside erosion and protects topsoil, especially the contour strip
cropping.
4. Attracts more beneficial insects, especially when flowering crops are included
the cropping system
5. Minimizes labor cost on the control of weeds. A mixture of various crops
gives often a better coverage of the soil leaving less space for the
development of weeds.
6. Utilizes the farm area more efficiently.
7. Results in potential increase for total production and farm profitability than
when the same crops are grown separately.
8. Provides 2 or more different food crops for the farm family in one cropping
season.
For successful intercropping there are certain important
requirements:
1) The time of peak nutrient demands of component crops should not
overlap.
2) Competition for light should be minimum among the component
crops.
3) Complementary should exist between the component crops.
4) The difference in maturity of component crops should be at least 30
days.
