What are different types of cropping

There are three types of cropping patterns:

1) Mixed Cropping:

• Growing two or more crops simultaneously on the same piece of land.
• Minimises the risk of crop failure.
• Seeds of two crops are mixed before sowing.
• Pest control of individual crop is difficult.
• Separate harvesting and threshing of individual crops is not possible.
• Crops yield can be increased.
• Example: Wheat + Gram, Wheat + Mustard, Groundnut + Sunflower

2)  Inter-cropping:

• Growing two or more crops simultaneously in the same field in a definite pattern.
• increases the productivity per unit area.
• Pesticides can be easily applied to individual crop.
• Both crops can be easily harvested and threshed.
• Soil erosion is reduced.
• Allows better use of natural resources such as light, soil air and water.
• Example: Soyabean + Maize, Finger millet (Bajra) + Cowpea (lobia)

3) Crop Rotation:

• Growing of different crops on the same land in pre-planned succession.
• Allows soil to recover its lost nutrients.
• Helps to control pests, weeds and diseases.
• Helps to reduce the use of chemical fertilisers.
• Example: Maize-Mustard, Rice-Wheat, Maize-Mustard-Sugarcane-Fenugreek, Maize-Potato-Sugarcane-Peas