Cultivation pattern means the proportion of area under several crops at one point in time. Crop statistics published by governments are used to denote crop patterns. However, the pattern of cultivation is a dynamic concept as it changes in space and time.
The cultivation patterns of a region are closely influenced by geoclimatic, sociocultural, economic, historical and political factors. The physical environment (physiographic, climatic, soil and water) imposes limits on the growth and distribution of plants and animals.
The role of man in the cultivation of certain crops in a region is also very important. Man, by his technological advance, can improve the physical limits. Rice cultivation in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan (Ganganagar) testifies to this fact. However, in different parts of the world, the physical environment reduces the choice of crops, either by prohibiting the growth of certain plants or by reducing their yield per unit area.
There are several types of farming systems based on available resources and technology. These are the following:
Mono-culture
When only one crop is grown season after season; It's called monoculture. The main disadvantage of monoculture is that it would reduce soil fertility and damage the soil structure. Due to the poor soil nutrients, the grower needs to use chemical fertilizers to encourage production. Chemical fertilizers would disrupt the natural composition of the soil and further aggravate the problem. Monoculture also allows the spread of pests and diseases.
Crop rotation
In crop rotation, crops are changed from year to year in a planned sequence. Crop rotation is considered a key principle of conservation agriculture, as it improves soil structure and fertility. It also helps control weeds, pests and diseases.
Sequential culture
Sequential culture refers to the cultivation of two or more crops in sequence on the same plot in an agricultural year. Based on the number of crops in a year, it is called double, triple or quadruple cultivation. Examples of dual culture are Rice-Potato; Rice mustard; Examples of tripple sequential cultures include rice-potato-peanut.
Inter-copping
Intercropping refers to the cultivation of two or more crops in the same field at the same time. Example of consortium is the sowing of alternate rows of maize and beans, or the cultivation of a cover crop between rows of cereals.
Intercalation is different from crop rotation because two or more crops are grown one after another. On the basis of spatial arrangement; The consortium can be of different types, such as:
• Intercalated row culture when the crop involves the cultures of components arranged in alternate rows. The benefit of this includes optimal use of soil space and suppression of weeds during the juvenile stage of the main crop.
• Strip interleaving involves the cultivation of two or more crops in strips that are wide enough to allow separate management of the two crops; But close enough for crops to interact.
• Mixed crop or mixed crop refers to the cultivation of two or more crops at the same time without a different row arrangement.
• Relay interlayer or relay culture is a system in which a second crop is planted when an existing crop has just bloomed but before harvesting. Therefore, relay culture has a minimum temporal overlap of two or more crops. In India, rice-cauliflower-onion-summer squash is an example of relay crops.