What is Multiple Cropping?
In this article, we are going to learn and gain information about the concept of Multiple cropping. Not only will we study what it is, but we will gain knowledge about the types, advantages/ disadvantages, the reasons why people do this and much more. There are various types of these systems which we will read about later on. It is quite an in-depth but interesting topic. Technology has advanced to such an extent that there are various types of systems evolving every day.
Before we get more in-depth, we first need to know “what is multiple cropping?” These multiple cropping systems are commonly used in the Global South. This includes regions such as Latin America, Africa, Asia, etc. It is a common practice to use this in these regions, especially on small farms where they grow to harvest subsistence for families with inadequate resources.
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This is one of the oldest forms of agriculture that is still widely and commonly used. It involves the farming of two or more species of plants on the same piece of land. It is done where the growth cycles of the unlike species intersect for a small part of their duration.
A simple form of multiple cropping is sequential cropping which is when the second crop is planted and grown after the first has been harvested. This type of agriculture may grow as intercrops where the growth and yield are limited and restricted to a certain growing season. There are many benefits of multiple cropping.
Many times, people get confused between mixed and multiple cropping. Mixed cropping is when two or more crops are cultivated together on the same land without any fixed ratio. In this, they are mixed and then grown, but intercropping is a multiple cropping technique in which the crops are cultivated nearby. They are cultivated on a piece of land in the same year, and it requires less irrigation, traditional seeds, machinery, tools, and equipment. This is how we can differentiate between mixed and multiple cropping.
There are many examples of such a type of cropping. One such example of multiple cropping is tomatoes and onions. Another example of multiple cropping can be marigold cultivation which is carried out together. The marigold helps to repel the pests in tomatoes. Another example is that of the American three crop plants, which are beans, maize, and cucurbits which are pumpkins and squash. Another example is the cultivation of wheat, gram, and mustard in Northern India. There are so many other examples of multiple cropping because this is a method that is still widely used across the world.
Now we know what multiple cropping is, now let us learn about types of multiple cropping.
What are the Different Types of Multiple Cropping?
There are many types of multiple cropping. The different types are:
Sequential cropping is when the crops are cultivated one after the other, and there is no overlapping phase.
Monocropping is the constant growth of the same type on the same land over a sequence of seasons.
There are different types of multiple cropping which every student must know about. When two or more types grow on the same land, it is called Multi cropping. A part of the growth cycles of the different species overlaps.
Intercropping is when two or more crops are cultivated together on the same land in the same season.
Relay cropping is when one type of plant is interplanted with the second before the first reaches maturity.
There are many other types of multiple cropping.
What are the Pros and Cons of the Process of Multiple Cropping?
The advantages of multiple cropping are:
It reduces the risk of loss from pests, droughts, and diseases. It helps in maintaining the fertility of the soil using nitrogen fixation.
It is greatly beneficial to farmers that have small plots and limited farming land because they can have full production within the limited area that they own. They can grow different products at one time, which also helps in reducing their costs of outputs. It will be higher if the crops are grown separately.
The disadvantages of multiple cropping are:
The survival of pests becomes easy. If they can't survive on one, they can survive on the other, growing with it. pests can move from one crop to the other very easily, so that is why
It is difficult to implement new technology on this because it uses the old traditional techniques and methods.
With these disadvantages of multiple cropping, many people do not prefer this method.
In this article, we have covered a great part of the things like what is multiple cropping and everything to know about multiple cropping. We studied the benefits of multiple cropping, looked at a few examples, and learned much more.
Fun Facts
Did you know that 12% of the global land that is used to grow crops are used to grow two or more crops in a sequence
34% of rice, 13% of wheat, and 10% of maize are cultivated under multiple cropping.
There is a minute difference between mixed cropping and multiple cropping, which many people tend to forget or mix up.
FAQs on Multiple Cropping
1. What is the definition of multiple cropping, particularly in the context of the village of Palampur from the Class 9 syllabus?
Multiple cropping is the agricultural practice of growing more than one crop on the same piece of land during a single year. In the context of the village of Palampur, it is presented as a key method to increase agricultural production without expanding the land area. Farmers in Palampur achieve this by planting different crops in different seasons, such as growing jowar and bajra during the rainy (kharif) season, followed by wheat in the winter (rabi) season.
2. What is a common example of a multiple cropping system practised by farmers in India?
A very common example of a multiple cropping system in India is the rice-wheat rotation, prevalent in northern states like Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. Farmers cultivate rice, a kharif crop, during the monsoon season and then grow wheat, a rabi crop, on the same field during the winter. This allows for two harvests from the same land in one year, maximising land utility and income.
3. What are the main types of multiple cropping?
Multiple cropping can be broadly categorised into a few main types based on how the crops are grown in sequence or proximity. The primary types include:
- Sequential Cropping: Growing two or more crops in sequence on the same land within a year. The succeeding crop is planted only after the preceding crop has been harvested.
- Intercropping: Simultaneously growing two or more crops in the same field in a definite pattern, such as in alternate rows.
- Relay Cropping: Planting a second crop into a field before the first crop has been harvested. This overlaps the later stage of the first crop with the early stage of the second.
4. How is multiple cropping different from mixed cropping?
While both practices involve growing more than one crop, the key difference lies in the arrangement and objective. In multiple cropping, crops are grown in a sequence or a specific spatial arrangement (like rows) over a year to maximise output from the land. In mixed cropping, seeds of two or more crops are mixed together and sown in the field without any distinct pattern or rows. The primary goal of mixed cropping is often to reduce the risk of total crop failure due to pests or unfavourable weather.
5. Why is multiple cropping considered such an effective method for increasing agricultural production?
Multiple cropping is effective because it fundamentally increases the intensity of land use. Instead of leaving the land fallow after one harvest, farmers can utilise it for another crop, leading to higher total yields from the same area within a year. This method not only boosts food production but also provides a more consistent income stream for farmers, improves food security, and can help maintain soil health if crop rotation is planned carefully to replenish nutrients.
6. How does the availability of resources like electricity and irrigation influence the success of multiple cropping?
The availability of key resources is crucial for the success of multiple cropping. Reliable irrigation is the most critical factor, as it allows farmers to grow crops even during dry seasons, breaking their dependence on monsoon rains. As seen in Palampur, the spread of electricity transformed irrigation by enabling farmers to use electric-run tubewells. This provided a consistent and controllable water supply, making it possible to cultivate a winter (rabi) crop like wheat and a third crop like potato or sugarcane, thus facilitating an effective multiple cropping system.
7. While multiple cropping increases yield, what are some potential challenges a farmer might face when implementing it?
Despite its benefits, implementing multiple cropping presents several challenges. These include:
- Short Turnaround Time: Farmers have a very limited window between harvesting one crop and sowing the next, which requires efficient labour and machinery.
- Nutrient Depletion: Growing multiple crops intensively can deplete soil nutrients more rapidly. This requires careful management and the use of fertilisers or organic manure to maintain soil fertility.
- Higher Input Costs: This practice often demands more seeds, fertilisers, water, and labour, which can increase the overall cost of cultivation for the farmer.
- Pest and Disease Management: A continuous cropping cycle can sometimes lead to the build-up of certain pests and diseases associated with the crops in rotation.
