Question

Explain the different cropping patterns.

Answer 1

Hint: The cropping pattern is the proportion of the land which is under the cultivation of different crops at different times. These are done to improve the yield of the crops.

Complete answer: The cropping patterns are done to improve the quality of yield by the complete utilization of the nutrients.
The different cropping patterns are:
1. Mixed cropping pattern: In these two or more crops are sown together in the same fields. Some example of mixed cropping is wheat and gram, as the wheat decreases the fertility of the soil the gram crop on the other hand supports by fixing the atmospheric nitrogen with the help of nitrogen-fixing bacteria. This helps in saving time and labor and it also improves the fertility of the soil.
2. Intercropping pattern: In this, the two or more crops are grown simultaneously in the same field in a row pattern that means that the few rows of one crop are sown to the adjoining is the few other crops.
In this way the cropping gets better, and then there is a better yield of both crops.
Example- soybean and maize.
3. Crop rotation: In this, the two or more crops are grown alternately in the same field, it is applied for various crop combination depending on the duration.
It helps in storing the fertility of the soil.

Note: The cropping pattern is beneficial as it improves the fertility of the soil and also increases the yield as all the nutrients are available to crops.
They determine the production of agriculture and also affects the economy of the region.