Traditionally, increased food production has come from putting more land under cultivation. However, in large areas of the world, especially in Asia, all the land that can be economically cultivated is already in use. In future, most of the extra food needs must come from higher production from land already being farmed. A major share of this increase is likely to come from increasing the number of crops produced per year on a given land using improved crop cultivars. Such multiple cropping offers potential not only to increase food production but also decrease land degradation.

A system is defined as a set of components that are interrelated and interact among themselves. A cropping system refers to a set of crop systems, making up the cropping activities of a farm system.

The cropping system comprises all components required for the production of a particular crop and the interrelationships between them and an environment

In other words, a cropping system usually refers to a combination of crops in time and space. The combination in time occurs when crops occupy different growing period and combinations in space occur when crops are inter planted. When annual crops are considered, a cropping system usually means the combination of crops within a given year

In India, the cropping pattern follows two distinct seasons; Kharif season from July to October and Rabi season from October to March. The crops grown between March to June called Zaid. The crops are grown solo or mixed (mixed-cropping) or in a definite sequence (rotational cropping). The land may be occupied by one crop during one session (mono-cropping) or by two crops during one season (double- cropping) which may be grown in a year in a sequence.

Cropping pattern

1> The yearly sequence and spatial arrangement of crops or of crops and fallow on a given area.
2> The cropping pattern indicates the proportion of area under different crops at a point of time. Cropping activities go on all the year round in India provided water is availed for the crops

Cropping system

The cropping patterns used on a farm and their interaction with farm resources, other farm enterprises, and available technology which determine their make up.

Intensive Cropping

Principles

1> Growing number of crops on the same piece of land during the given period of time. The turnaround period between one crop and another is minimised through modified land preparation.
2> It is possible when the resources are available in plenty. Ex. Garden land cultivation.
3> Cropping intensity is higher in intensive cropping system.
4> Crop intensification technique includes intercropping, relay cropping, sequential cropping, ratoon cropping, etc. All such systems come under the general term multiple cropping.

Need for intensive cropping

1> Cropping systems has to be evolved based on climate, soil and water availability for efficient use of available natural resources.
2> The increase in population has put pressure on land to increase productivity per unit area, unit time and for unit resource used.
3> This cropping system should provide enough food for the family, fodder for cattle and generate sufficient cash income for domestic and cultivation expenses.

Cropping intensity

Number of crops cultivated in a piece of land per annum is cropping intensity. In Punjab and Tamil Nadu, the cropping intensity is more than 100% (i.e. around 140-150%). In Rajasthan, the cropping intensity is less.

types of cropping systems

1> Mono-Cropping
2> Multiple-cropping
3> Inter-cropping

1> Mono-Cropping

Mono-cropping or monoculture refers to growing of only one crop on a piece of land year after year.
It may be due to climatological and socio-economic conditions or due to specialisation of a farmer in growing a particular crop, e.g., under rained conditions, groundnut or cotton or sorghum are grown year after year due to limitation of rainfall. In canal irrigated areas, under a waterlogged condition, rice crop is grown as it is not possible to grow any other crop.

2> Multiple-cropping

Growing two or more crops on the same piece of land in one calendar year is known as multiple-cropping. It is the intensification of cropping in time and space dimensions, i.e., more number of crops within year and more number of crops on same piece of land any give period. It includes inter-cropping, mixed-cropping and sequence cropping. Double-cropping is a case where the land is occupied by two crops, which are grown in a year in sequence.

3> Inter-cropping

Growing two or more crops simultaneously on the same field.
Crop intensification is in both time and space dimensions. There is intercrop competition during all or part of crop growth. Inter-cropping was originally practiced as an insurance against crop failure under rained conditions. At present main objective of inter-cropping is higher productivity per unit area in addition to stability in production. Inter-cropping system utilizes resources efficiently and their productivity is increased.

important requirements for successful inter-cropping

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> Complementarity should exist between the component crops.
4> The differences in maturity of component crops should be at least 30 days.

Types of Intercropping

The degree of spatial and temporal overlap in the two crops can vary somewhat, but both requirements must be met for a cropping system to be an intercrop. Numerous types of intercropping, all of which vary the temporal and spatial mixture to some degree, have been identified

1> Mixed intercropping
2> Row intercropping
3> Alley cropping
4> Strip intercropping
5> Relay intercropping

1> Mixed intercropping

Mixed-cropping is growing of two or more crops simultaneously intermingled without an row pattern. It is a common practice in most of dry land tracts of India. Seeds of different crops are mixed in certain proportion and are sown. The objective is to meet the family requirement of cereals. pulses and vegetables.
Also referred to as mixed cropping. Ex: Sorghum, pearl millet and cowpea are mixed and broadcasted in rainfed conditions.

2> Row intercropping

Growing two or more crops simultaneously where one or more crops are planted in rows. Often simply referred to as intercropping. Maize + greengram (1:1), Maize + blackgram (1:1), Groundnut + Rredgram (6:1)
Thus, cropping intensity in space dimension is achieved
Variations include alley cropping, where crops are grown in between rows of trees, and strip cropping, where multiple rows, or a strip, of one crop are alternated with multiple rows of another crop.

3> Alley cropping

Alley Cropping is planting rows of trees at wide spacings with a companion crop grown in the alleyways between the rows.
Alley cropping can diversify farm income, improve crop production and provide protection and conservation benefits to crops.
Common examples of alley cropping plantings include wheat, corn, soybeans or hay planted in between rows of black walnut or pecan trees.

4> Strip intercropping

Growing two or more crops simultaneously in strips wide enough to permit independent cultivation but narrow enough for the crops to interact agronomically. Ex. Groundnut + redgram (6:4) strip.

5> Relay intercropping

Growing two or more crops simultaneously during the part of the life cycle of each.
A second crop is planted after the first crop has reached its reproductive stage of growth, but, before it is ready for harvest. Often simply referred to as relay cropping. Rice- rice fallow pulse.

Advantages of intercropping

1> Better use of growth resources including light, nutrients and water
2> Suppression of weeds
3> Yield stability; even if one crop fails due to unforeseen situations, another crop will yield and gives income
4> Successful intercropping gives higher equivalent yields (yield of base crop + yield of intercrop), higher cropping intensity
5> Reduced pest and disease incidences
6> Improvement of soil health and agro-eco system
7> Intercropping of compatible plants also encourages biodiversity, by providing a habitat for a variety of insects and soil organisms that would not be present in a single-crop environment. This in turn can help limit outbreaks of crop pests by increasing predator biodiversity.
8> Additionally, reducing the homogeneity of the crop increases the barriers against biological dispersal of pest organisms through the crop.

Sequence cropping

1> Sequence cropping can be defined as growing of two or more crops in a sequence on same piece of land in a farming year. The succeeding crop is planted after the preceding crop has been harvested.
2> Crop intensification is only in time dimension. There is no intercrop competition.
3> Double, triple and quadruple cropping: Growing two, three and four crops, respectively, on the same land in a year in sequence. Ex. Double cropping: Rice: cotton; Triple cropping: Rice: rice: pulses; Quadruple cropping: Tomato: ridge gourd: Amaranthus greens: baby corn

The various terms defined above bring out essentially two underlying principles, that of growing crops simultaneously in mixture, i.e., intercropping; and of growing individual crops in sequence, i.e., sequential cropping. The cropping system for a region or farm may comprise either or both of these two principles

Relay cropping

1> Refers to planting of the succeeding crop before harvesting the preceding one.
2> Relay intercropping is a kind of intercropping in which two or more crops grow simultaneously during part of the life cycle of each.
3> A second crop is planted before the first crop matures; in other words, the second crop is planted in the same field as the first crop after the first has achieved reproductive maturity but before it has reached physiological maturity. This allows farmers to grow two crops in one season in places where the growing season is not long enough to accommodate two crops.

Ratoon cropping

1> Ratooning refers to raising a crop with re-growth coming out of roots or stalks after harvest of crops.
2> Ratooning is a method of harvesting a crop which leaves the roots and the lower parts of the plant uncut to give the ratoon or the stubble crop.
3> The main benefit of ratooning is that the crop matures earlier in the season. Ratooning can also decrease the cost of preparing the field and planting.
4> This method cannot be used endlessly as the yield of the ratoon crop decreases after each cycle. Ratooning is most often used with crops which are known to give a steady yield for three years under most conditions.

Factors Affecting Cropping Pattern in India

The cropping pattern is highly influenced by climatic, personal, social, cultural and economic factors of the farmers. The major factors are

i) Size of the Land Holding

In India marginal and small farmers represents the majority of farming community. So the mono crop paddy has become predominant as it fulfils the household needs and perpetuates the subsistence agriculture with little scope for commercial Cop husbandry.

ii) Literacy

Majority of the farmers are ignorant of the scientific methods involved in mixed-cropping, mono cropping and other technological knowhow for practicing better

iii) Disease and pest

The cropping pattern also depends on the possibility of disease and pest infections.

iv) Ecological Suitability

The cropping pattern of a particular region is highly dependent on the ecological condition (temperature, rainfall, humidity, etc.).

V) Moisture Availability

The source of irrigation greatly determines the type of the cropping pattern to be practiced. For example , in low rainfall area, dry land farming is best possible way to profit maximisation.

vi) Financial Stability

The economic condition of the farmers also affects the cropping pattern. As the cash crops (for example, cotton) involve high capital investments, these are practised only in estate farming. The marginal section of the farms community adopts low cost crops.

changes in the cropping patterns

1> The trend in the land use pattern and cropping pattern over last 50 years in India has shown increasing use of land for the purpose of cultivation with slight variations.
2> The change in land use pattern and cropping pattern is vastly affected by rapid urbanization. The higher cultivable area has been achieved by bringing large acreage of uncultivable land into cultivation.
3> Indian agriculture is increasingly getting influenced more and more by economic factors.
a> This need not be surprising because irrigation expansion, infrastructure development, penetration of rural markets, development and spread of short duration and drought resistant crop technologies have all contributed to minimizing the role of non-economic factors in crop choice of even small farmers.
b> The reform initiatives undertaken in the context of the ongoing agricultural liberalization and globalization policies are also going to further strengthen the role of price related economic incentives in determining crop composition both at the micro and macro levels.
c> Such a changing economic environment will also ensure that government price and trade policies will become still more powerful instruments for directing area allocation decisions of farmers, aligning thereby the crop pattern changes in line with the changing demand-supply conditions.
d> In a condition where agricultural growth results more from productivity improvement than from area expansion, the increasing role that price related economic incentives play in crop choice can also pave the way for the next stage of agricultural evolution where growth originates more and more from value-added production.
4> The major change in cropping pattern that have been observed in India is a substantial area shift from cereals to non-cereals. Although cereals gained a marginal increase in area share in the first decade of the Green Revolution, their area and share declined gradually thereafter.While cereals and pulses have lost area, the major gainers of this area shift are the non-food grain crops especially oilseeds.
5> As we consider the share of individual crops within cereals, although the share of cereals as a group has declined, the area share of rice has increased continuously over all the four periods. Wheat, although having a declining area share until 1986/87, also gained in its share when the entire period is considered.
6> Thus, the area loss of cereals can be attributed entirely to the declining area share of coarse cereals, especially sorghum, pearl millet, barely and small millets. It can be noted that even within coarse cereals, the area share of maize shows a marginal improvement over the years.
7> Within oilseeds, the crops showing steady improvement in their area share are: rapeseed and mustard, soybean and sunflower. Among these three oilseeds gaining in area share, rapeseed and mustard are substantially grown as intercrops with wheat.
8> But, the declining area share of crops – especially those with only a marginal change in their area share – need not necessarily imply a decline in the actual area under these crops. Since the Gross Cropped Area (GCA) is constantly increasing over time, partly through an expansion of net sown areas as in the initial stages of the Green Revolution and partly through increasing intensity of cropping mainly by irrigation expansion, the declining area share can coincide with an increase in absolute increase in the area under crops.

Emerging Problems in Cropping Patterns

1> The dominance of cereal crops in the foodgrains points to the poverty of people. It meets the demand of the low-income people, in whose case a large proportion of income is spent on cereals. Even pulses which are the source of protein for this class of people is not grown on a significant scale. Most of the farmers being marginal and small are the net purchaser of foodgrains and hardly can afford the high input cost for raising a successful non-food cashcrop.
2> The predominance of foodgrains group together with the fact that a significant proportion of agricultural production is concentrated in small farms, leads one to conclude that much of the cultivation is for self consumption.
3> The fact that large areas remains under foodgrains shows that land productivity has not increased at par with technological possibilities,
4> Despite significant changes in cropping pattern, the shift towards high valued commercial crops has been very small. The result is an insignificant impact on the growth of the crop output.

current cropping patterns

Gradually new concepts on multiple-cropping have started coming in and now there has been some accumulation of useful scientific information. The information is based on analytical work on different crop combinations and sequential growth of the crops. In this respect, cultivated areas in the country can be broadly classified into three categories based on rainfall pattern

1. area where annual rainfall is above 1150 mm

Most of the areas in Assam, Kerala, Orissa and West Bengal can be included in the first category. Basic problems in these areas pertain to limited irrigation and poor drainage. Most of the farmers are engaged in rice cultivation.

2. area where rainfall ranges from 750-1150 mm

Large parts of Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh fall in the second category and occupy about one third of the total cultivated area in the country. In these areas there is large potential for creating minor irrigation facilities.

3. area where rainfall is below 750 mm

The third category also occupies nearly one third of the cultivated area, comprising parts of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. In these areas, unless major and medium irrigation facilities are provided, there is little hope for raising cropping intensity to a substantial extent.