Cropping systems in India is a traditional practice performed since ages where localisation of cropping system has resulted due to different terrains and climatic conditions. In this article, you will learn definition, types, difference between cropping pattern and cropping system, etc.
This article will provide key insights for GS Paper-III Economy of UPSC IAS Exam.
Table of Content
- What is Cropping systems?
- What is Cropping patterns?
- Classification of cropping system
- What is Monoculture cropping system?
- What is Multiple cropping system?
- About the System of Crop Intensification
- About the Intercropping system
- What is Strip Cropping?
- What is Mixed cropping system?
- What is Relay cropping system?
- What do you mean by Alley cropping system?
- What is Multi-storeyed cropping system?
- What is Sequence cropping system?
- About Fallow in rotation cropping system
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cropping systems?
- Definition: it is the order in which the fixed proportion of crops are cultivated on a fixed proportion of land for a particular time period.
- Types of cropping system: Monoculture; Multiple cropping system; Fallow in rotation.
What is Cropping patterns?
- Cropping patterns consists of various sequences of crops grown for fixed time period and spatial arrangement of such crops in same area.
Classification of cropping system:
What is Monoculture cropping system?
- Monoculture cropping system is the cropping system in which only one crop is grown on the same land for many years.
- Monoculture cropping system is also called Monocropping.
- E.g., when rain conditions are not apt sorghum is grown for many years.
- Machines can be used conveniently in this system including sowing and harvesting.
- Monoculture cropping system can lower fertility and productivity of soil as same crop requires same type of nutrients which will then reduce the quality of the soil.
- Monoculture cropping system can deteriorate soil structure.
- Due to same crops cultivated, it can lead to increase in pests, diseases and weeds.
What is Multiple cropping system?
- Multiple cropping system is the practice of growing 2 or more crops on the same piece of land for one harvesting year.
- Multiple cropping system includes intercropping system, mixed cropping system, relay cropping system, alley cropping system, multi-storeyed cropping system and sequence cropping system.
- Multiple cropping system is also known as Multi tier cropping system.
About the System of Crop Intensification:
- The System of Crop Intensification is the technique to increase the agricultural production per unit of inputs including expenditure and capital.
- The System of Crop Intensification includes intercropping, relay cropping, sequential cropping, ratoon cropping, etc.
About the Intercropping system:
- Intercropping system is cropping system in which minor crops are grown between rows of the base crop or growing 2 or more crops on the same land with distinct row arrangement at the same time.
- Minor crops must not affect the optimum plant population and yield of the major crop.
- Minor crops must have different maturity and harvesting time then the major crop.
- Usually, leguminous plants are chosen as minor crops as it helps in nitrogen fixation.
- Minor crops must have different nutrients requirement than major crops to preserve soil fertility and reduce competition with base crop.
- Intercropping system helps reducing the growth of pests, disease and weeds.
- Harvesting of crops grown through this system using machinery is a difficult task.
- Types: Parallel Cropping; Companion cropping; Mixed Intercropping.
- Coconut based cropping system and Cotton based cropping system in India can be optimised using this cropping method.
What is Strip Cropping?
- The Strip Cropping is a technique to plant several types of crops in strips alternatively in rotation.
- The Strip Cropping is commonly performed on hilly areas to control soil erosion.
- The Strip Cropping is similar to intercropping as alternative species are grown in-between the crops.
- The Strip Cropping is commonly performed in India in North-east regions and Himalayan states.
What is Mixed cropping system?
- Mixed cropping system is the process of growing two or more crops, in which one is major, simultaneously on same piece of land with no distinct row arrangements between them.
- Mixed cropping system is commonly performed in dry conditions where leguminous crops are mixed with the cereal or millets.
- In this technique, risk of failure of crop is less.
- Controlling pests and using proper fertilisers that are apt for one crop but may not be useful for another crop is a difficult task.
- Mixed cropping system might affect the yield of base crop.
What is Relay cropping system?
- Relay cropping system is the cropping system in which succeeding crop is sown when the preceding crop has reached its physiological maturity or is ready for harvesting or just before that.
- Relay cropping system reduces the cost of fertilizers and irrigation.
- Relay cropping system decreases the occurrence of pest, diseases and weeds.
- The localised version of this practice is paira and utera cropping system performed in Bihar, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal Chattisgarh and Odisha.
- In utera and paira cropping system lentil/ lathyrus/ urdbean/ mungbean seeds are sowed in the standing crop of rice 2 week before rice harvest.
What do you mean by Alley cropping system?
- Alley cropping system is the system of sowing minor crops, mainly millets crops, between the passage of sown major crops, mainly leguminous crops.
- Alley cropping system helps in retaining moisture of the soil.
- The left overs of major crops are used for mulching practices to preserve the soil moisture and once it decays it turns into organic matter.
- Alley cropping system has increased chances of crop failure or less yield may be obtained.
- Types: Food cum fodder system; Food cum mulch system; Food cum pole system.
What is Multi-storeyed cropping system?
- Multi-storeyed cropping system is the practice of cultivating plants of different height, rooting pattern and maturity duration in the same field at the same time.
- Multi-storeyed cropping system helps to utilize vertical space effectively.
- Example: Coconut + Black paper + Pineapple.
What is Sequence cropping system?
- In this cropping system, two or more crops are cultivated successively on the same piece of land in the same year.
- Types: Double cropping system; Triple cropping system; Quadruple cropping system and Ratoon cropping system.
- Here, Double cropping system means cultivating 2 crops in the same year, Triple cropping system means cultivating 3 crops in the same year and so on.
About Fallow in rotation cropping system:
- Fallow in rotation cropping system is the practice of cultivating only 2 crops or less than that for 3 years as against single crop each year caused by dry conditions or drought like conditions.
- Fallow in rotation cropping system is also called fallowing.
- Fallow in rotation cropping system involves leaving the soil uncultivated or fallow for a year, so that it can gain its fertility back.
Conclusion:
Crops in India are majorly Kharif, Rabi and Zaid on the basis of the seasonwhere rice cropping system and Wheat cropping system is backbone of Indian economy. However, using variety of cropping system that suits best to they farm should be encouraged by the government, where “soil health card scheme” can help to determine which crops and cropping pattern is best the farm.Latest technologies such as crop pest surveillance system, smart crop protection system, Intelligent Crop Recommendation system using Machine Learning can help farmers in deciding the best cropping system suitable to their land and combination of crops that does not compete with each other and thus lead towards increased output.
Ref: Source-1
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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Define cropping system.
Cropping systems is the order in which the fixed proportion of crops are cultivated on a fixed proportion of land for a particular time period.
Difference between cropping system and cropping pattern.
The key difference between the Cropping pattern and cropping system is that Cropping pattern focuses on management of crops in time and space whereas Cropping systems also includes various types of crops, machines available and other farm resources to optimise output.
What is the difference between cropping system and farming system.
Cropping system focuses only on cultivation of crop whereas Farming system also includes livestock, aquaculture among others along with the cropping system.
What is the Efficient Cropping Systems?
Efficient cropping systems is the method of optimal use of farm resources, farm enterprises and farm technology by treating farm as an organized economical unit. When land is limited intensive cropping techniques such as cropping system in vegetables can be adopted.
What is the Crop rotation system?
Crop rotation system is a system of growing different kinds of crops recurrently in succession on the same land.
What are the best pulse based cropping system in India?
Pulses are grown in different cropping systems such as sequential cropping, mixed and intercropping, relay cropping, catch cropping and ratoon cropping.