Rice based Cropping systems - Cropping Systems for Major Agro-Ecological Regions, Crop Production | Crop Production Notes- Agricultural Engineering PDF Download

Rice based cropping systems in India

In rice growing areas several crop combinations (cropping systems) are in practice based on agro-ecological conditions, market and domestic needs and facilities available with farmers, some of the most prominent ones are being discussed under:

1. Mixed varietal cropping of rice. System of mixing seed of early rice (ahu) with late maturing deep water rice (bao) is being practices in West Bengal to avoid total crop loss at the event of flood. The seed of both the types of mixed in 1:1 ratio and has given higher yield than sole cropping of either type. Similarly growing of a mixture of autum and winter varieties in 3:1 ratio in Tamil Nadu (known as udo) and Kerala (called as koottumundkan) is very much in practice. However, under normal conditions it has created problems in performing agricultural operations like harvesting, deciding fertilizer doses etc.

2. Intercropping rice with other crops. It is a common practice under upland conditions in north and north-eastern part of the country to grow rice intercropped with black gram, green gram, sesame, maize, finger millet or other miner millets. The ratio of rice and inter crop is preferred to be 3-4:1.

3. Relay/paira/utera cropping. The seed of succeeding crops like lentil, gram, pea, lathyrus, berseem, linseed etc. is sown broadcast in maturing rice crop. This practice saves time; money (to be spent on land preparation etc.) utilizes residual fertility. This practice is common in both upland and lowland rice culture.

4. Sequential cropping in rice. Sequential cropping refers to the crops grown as preceding or succeeding with rice as shown below;

5. Rice under integrated farming system

Rice-Fish-Poultry

Rice-Fish-Duckery

In North India where irrigation facilities exist, a number of cropping systems of crops involving rice are feasible. After harvest of rice, crops like potato, berseem, toria etc., can be sown and will fit very well in intensive crop rotations. In rainfed areas too, where the soils are well drained and have good moisture retention capacity, legume crops like chickpea, lentil could be grown s

Dynamics of rice-based cropping systems in the southern transitional zone of Karnataka

Table 1: Changing area under rice (ha) from 1985-86 to 1996-97

Source: Diagnostic sample survey in 14 taluks (140 villages, 700 farmers) of the southern transition zone of Karnataka