Cropping pattern is the central element of agricultural land use. It helps to study the acreage under various crops in different crop seasons. Variation in cropping systems has been one of the main characteristics of Indian agriculture and it is credited to rain-fed agriculture and existing socio-economic condition of crop growing community. Fundamentally, cropping pattern entails the proportion of area under various crops at a point of time. Cropping pattern is, however, a dynamic notion as it changes over space and time.
Increases Crop Yield:
Agroecological practices focus on enhancing soil health and biodiversity, leading to improved crop yields over time. By fostering a more balanced and resilient ecosystem, these practices can help farmers achieve higher productivity without relying heavily on external inputs.
Reduces Soil Erosion:
One of the key features of agroecology is the emphasis on soil conservation. Practices such as contour farming, cover cropping, and agroforestry help reduce soil erosion by minimizing the impact of rainfall and wind on the soil surface.
Increases Soil Fertility:
Agroecological practices prioritize soil health by promoting organic matter accumulation, nutrient cycling, and beneficial microbial activity. This leads to improved soil fertility, which in turn supports healthier plant growth and higher yields.
Maximizes Resource Utilization:
Agroecology emphasizes the efficient use of resources such as water, nutrients, and sunlight. By optimizing resource utilization, farmers can achieve higher productivity while reducing waste and environmental impact.
Reduced Likelihood of Crop Failure:
Agroecological systems tend to be more resilient to environmental stresses, such as droughts or pests, compared to conventional monoculture. The diversity of crops and farming practices helps buffer against crop failures, ensuring more stable yields over time.
Increases Soil Nutrients:
Agroecological practices promote the natural cycling of nutrients within the soil-plant system. By incorporating organic matter, using cover crops, and practicing crop rotation, farmers can increase the availability of essential nutrients for plant uptake.
Multiple Crop Varieties Can be Harvested:
Agroecology encourages the cultivation of diverse crop varieties, which not only enhances biodiversity but also provides farmers with a range of products to harvest and sell. This diversification can improve farm income and food security.
Minimizes Pest Infestation:
Agroecological practices, such as intercropping and crop rotation, can help reduce pest pressure by disrupting pest life cycles and creating a less favorable environment for pests. This reduces the need for chemical pesticides.
Chemical Fertilizers are Not Required:
By focusing on organic matter management1 and nutrient cycling, agroecological practices minimize the need for synthetic chemical fertilizers. This reduces production costs and environmental pollution associated with fertilizer use.
Variation in Cropping Pattern
The cropping patterns differ from region to region. It depends on the land, topography, slope, temperature, amount and reliability of rainfall, soils and availability of water for irrigation. The perception and evaluation of environment is also important for guiding which crop should grow in certain region. Those areas of the world where physical diversities are less, the cropping patterns are less diversified.
For instance, in the rainfall scarce areas of Rajasthan (India), the farmers grow bajra (bulrush millet), while in the Brahmaputra valley of Assam rice is the dominant crop. Likewise, cotton is grown in the regur (black earth) soil of Maharashtra and Gujarat, while the loamy soils of western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab are ideally suited for wheat, rice and sugarcane crops.
Example of a Cropping Pattern
| Crop | Season | Duration (Months) | Yield (kg/ha) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheat | Rabi | 5 | 3000 |
| Maize | Kharif | 4 | 4000 |
| Soybean | Kharif | 3 | 2000 |
| Mustard | Rabi | 4 | 1500 |
| Pigeon Pea | Rabi | 6 | 1200 |
Crops grown in India
| SL No. | Types of Crops | Meaning | Major Crops |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Food grains | Crops that are used for human consumption | Rice, Wheat, Maize, Millets, Pulses, Oilseeds |
| 2. | Commercial Crops | Crops grown for sale in raw or semi-processed form | Cotton, Jute, Sugarcane, Tobacco, Oilseeds |
| 3. | Plantation Crops | Crops grown on large estates known as plantations | Tea, Coffee, Coconut, Rubber |
| 4. | Horticulture | Agriculture involving the cultivation of fruits and vegetables | Fruits, Vegetables |
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- Organic matter management (OMM) refers to various agricultural practices to maintain and increase the organic matter status of soils with the aim of enhancing soil fertility, in particular by ameliorating the provision, storage and release of nutrients as well as by improving the soil structure, which in turn increases the infiltration and retention capacity of the water in the soil. ↩︎
