Crop and Cropping System

Introduction
“A man without food for three days will quarrel, for a week will fight and for a month or so will
die”. Agriculture is a branch of applied science. Agriculture is the science and art of farming
including cultivating the soil, producing crops and raising livestock. It is the most important
enterprise in the world.

Among all the branches of agriculture, agronomy occupies a pivotal position and is regarded as
the ‘mother’ or ‘primary’ branch. The word Agronomy has been derived from two Greek words
i.e., ‘agros’ meaning field and ‘nomos’ meaning to manage. Literally it means the art of
managing fields and technically it means the science and economics of crop production. In other
words it is the art and underlying science in production and improvement of field crops with the
efficient use of soil fertility, water, labour and other factors related to crop production.
Agronomy is the field of study and practice of ways and means of production of food, feed and
fibre crops. Thus, agronomy as a branch of agricultural sciences deals with principles and
practices of field management for the production of field crops.

Classification

Classification of field crops is necessary to know the adaptation, habitat, life cycle, nutrient
requirement, insect-pest and disease reaction of crops, so that an appropriate production
technology could be developed and adopted for maximum productivity at minimum cost.

Crop plants are grouped into three main classes according to the range of cultivation. They are as
follows

Garden Crops: Crop plants that are grown on a small scale in gardens such as kitchen gardens,
flower gardens and backyard gardens.

Plantation Crops: Crop plants that are grown on a larger scale on estates. They are perennial or
permanent in nature.
Field Crops: Crop plants that are grown on a vast scale. They are mostly seasonal.

Among these three classes agronomy deals with field crops only. Field crops are classified in many
ways. According to economic or agrarian or agricultural classification or classification according
to use of crop plants and their products, field crops are classified as follows.

Cereal Crops
A cereal is generally defined as a cultivated grass grown for their edible starchy grains. Bulk of
staple food crops all over the world comes from this group.

Major Cereal Crops

In general, the larger grains are used as staple food is considered as major cereals.

1. Paddy/Rice: Oryza sativa

2. Wheat: Triticum aestivum
3. Maize/Corn: Zea mays
4. Barley : Hordium vulgare

Millets
Millets are a group of small grained cereals which are of minor importance as food and
they have a single cover. Millets are further classified into two groups.

Major Millets
1. Sorghum/Jowar/Great millet : Sorghum bicolor
2. Bajra/Pearl millet : Pennisetum typhoides
3. Ragi/Finger millet : Eleusine corcana

Minor Millets
1. Foxtail millet/Navane : Setariaitalica
2. Little millet/Saame : Panicummilliare
 3. Kodo millet/Haraka : Paspalumscrobiculatum
4. Proso millet/Baragu : Panicummillaceum
5. Barnyard millet/Udlu : Echinochloafrumentaceae

Pulse Crops
Pulses are grain legumes used as food. On splitting they produce dal which is rich in protein.
They are regarded as building blocks of living organisms for high protein content. These crops
have the unique built in ability of fixing atmospheric nitrogen in their root system.
Grams
1. Red gram/Pigeon pea : Cajanuscajan
2. Bengal gram/

Chick pea : Cicerarietinum

3. Black gram/Urd : Phaseolusmungo/Vignamungo
4. Green gram/Mung : Phaseolusaureus/Vignaradiata
5. Horse gram : Macrotylomauniflorum

Beans
1. Soybean : Glysine max
2. Field bean/Avare : Dolichos lablab
3. French bean : Phaseolus vulgare
4. Lima bean/ Double bean: Phseolus lunatus
5. Winged bean : Psophocorpus tetragonolobus
6. Cluster bean : Cyamopsis tetragonoloba
7. Moth bean : Vigna aconitifolia

Peas
1. Pea : Pisum sativum
2. Cow pea : Vigna unguiculata/V. sinensis
Oil Seed Crops:
Oil seed crops are grown for the purpose of oil. The seeds of these crops are rich in fatty acids
and are used to extract vegetable oil to meet edible oil, industrial and plant protection
requirements.
Edible Oil Seed Crops
1. Ground nut/Pea nut : Arachis hypogaea
2. Soybean : Glysine max
3. Sunflower : Helianthus annus
4. Safflower : Carthamus tinctorius
5. Sesamum : Sesamum orientale
6. Niger : Guizotiaabyssinica
7. Mustard : Brassica juncea
8. Rape : Brassica campestris

Non Edible Oil Seed Crops

1. Linseed/Flax :Linum usitatisium
2. Castor :Recinus comunis
3. Cotton : Gossypium hirsutum

Fibre Crops
These plants are grown for extraction of fibres which are mainly used for clothing, rope making,
carpet making and other purposes.
Fruit Fibres
1. Cotton : Gossypium hirsutum
2. Kapok/Silk cotton :Ceiba pentandra

Stem/Stalk/BastFibres
1. Jute : Corchorus capsularis
2. Mesta : Hibiscus cannabinus
3. Ramei : Boemerianivea
4. Roselle : Hibiscus sabdariffa
5. Linseed /flax : Linumusitatisamum

Leaf Fibres/ Hard Fibres

1. Sisal : Agave sisalana
2. Henequan : Agavafourcroydes
3. Manila hemp : Musa textiles

Sugar Crops
Crops are grown for the production of sugars and starch.
1. Sugarcane : Sacharumofficinarum
2. Sugarbeet : Beta vulgaris
Commercial Crops
In these crops, more than 75 per cent of the product is for trade but not for home
consumption.
1. Sugarcane : Saccharumofficinarum
2. Cotton : Gossypiumhirsututm
3. Tobacco : Nicotianatabacum
4. Jute : Carchoruscapsularis
5. Potato : Solanumtubersosum
6. Chilli : Capsicum annum
7. Betelvine : Piper betel
8. Mulberry : Morus alba

Forage Crops
Forage crops refer to vegetative matter, fresh or preserved, utilized as feed for animals. It
includes fodder, hay, silage and pastures.

Annuals
i) Cereal Fodders
1. Maize :Zea mays
2. Jowar :Sorghum bicolar
3. Bajra :Pennisetumtyphoides
4. Barley :Hardiumvulgare
5. Oats : Avena sativa
6. Mustard : Brassica oleracea
7. Deenabandhu : Pennisetumpedicillatum

Legume Fodders
1. Cowpea :Vignaunguiculata/V. sinensis
2. Horse gram : Dolichosbiflorus
3. Lucerne/Alfa alfa :Medicago sativa
4. Cluster bean/Guar :Cyamopsistetragonaloba
5. Berseem :Trifoliumalexandrium
6. Rice bean : Phaseoluscalcaratus
7. Lupins :Lupinuslupins

Perennials
1. Rhodes : Chlorisgayana
2. Greenpanic :Panicum maximum cv trichoglume
3. Guinea : Panicum maximum
4. Setaria : Setariaanceps
5. Para : Brachariamutica
6. Napier : Pennisetumpurpureum
7. Signal : Brachariabrizantha
8. Sudan : Sorghum sudanensis

Pasture Grasses
1. Anjan : Cenchrusciliaris
2. Dawalu : Chrysopogonfulvis
3. Marvel : Dicantheumannulatum
4. Pavan : Sehimanervosum
5. Spear : Heteropogoncontentus
6. Dhallis : Paspalumnotatum

Forage Legumes
1. Stylo : Stylosantheshamata
2. Glysine : Glysineweightii
3. Centro : Centrosema pubescence
4. Calapo : Calapogoniummuconoides
5. Glysine : Glysineweightii
6. Green leaf : Desmodiumintortum
7. Silver leaf : Desmodiumunicatum

Forage Climbers
1. Winged bean : Psorocarpustetragonoloba
2. Velvet bean : Styzolobiumdeerengianum
3. Dolichos : Dolichos lablab

Top Feeds/Browse Plants

1. Agase : Sesbaniagrandiflora
2. Sesbania/Shevri : S. aegyptica
3. Subabul : Leucanaleucocephala
4. Mulberry : Morus alba
5. Erythrina/Harivana : Erythrinaindica

Green Manure Crops

Green manure crops are those crops which are used for incorporating their plant tissues into
thesoil for improving the soil productivity.
In-Situ Green Manure Crops
Green manure crops are grown and incorporated in to the soil of the same field inwhich it is
grown.

Leguminous green manurecrops

1. Sunnhemp : Crotalaria juncea
2. Daincha :Sesbaniaaculeata
3. Sesbania : Sesbaniaspeciosa
4. Indigo : Indigoferatinctoria
5. Wild Indigo : Tephrosiapurpurea
6. Cow pea : Vignaunguiculata/V. sinensis
7. Green gram/Mung : Phaseolusaureus/Vignaradiata
8. Black gram/Urd : Phaseolusmungo/Vignamungo
9. Horse gram : Macrotylomauniflorum
10. Cluster bean/Guar : Cyamopsistetragonaloba
11. Berseem : Trifoliumalexandrium

Non-leguminous green manurecrops

Crops like maize,jowar,barley and oats can be used as green manure crops.

Ex-situGreen Manure Crops/Green Leaf Manure Crops

Green leaves are collected from all the available sources and incorporating them in the soil.
1.Glyrcidia: Glyrcidiamaculata
2. Subabul : Leucaenaleucocephala
3. Agase : Sesbaniagrandiflora
4. Pongamia : Pongamia glabra
5. Eupatorium :Chromolaenaodorata
6. Neem : Meliaazadiracta
7. Cassia : Cassia siamea
8. Ipomea : Ipomoea carnea
9. Yekka : Calotropisgigantia
1. ANONYMOUS, 2009, Hand Book of Agriculture, Indian Council for
Agricultural Research, New Delhi.
2. CHHIDDA SINGH, 1983, Modern Techniques of Raising Field Crops, Oxford &
IBH Publ. Co., New Delhi.
3. GOPAL CHANDRA DE, 2008, Fundamentals of Agronomy, Oxford & IBH
Publ. Co., New Delhi.
4. RATHORE, P.S., 2002, Techniques and Management of Field Crop Production,
Agrobios (India), Jodhpur.
Cropping Pattern

Concept: The yearly sequence of crop production followed in an area is called cropping pattern
of that locality.

Say, in an area, the following crops are in different seasons of the year:

Cropping season Kharif-1 Kharif-2 Rabi

Crops Jute T. aman Mustard

That means the cropping pattern of that locality is- Jute-T. aman-Mustard

There is a relationship between cropping pattern and crop rotation. Both are related to sequential
cropping but cropping pattern is the sequence of cropping for one year whereas crop rotation
means the sequence of cropping for several years.

According to H. Brammer (1978), there are nine main cropping patterns traditionally used by the
farmers on different kinds of land and soil of Bangladesh, These are:

1. Aus rice-Rabi crops

2. Aus rice- T. aman rice- Fallow
3. T. aman rice- Fallow
4. Mixed aus rice and B. aman rice- Rabi crops
5. B. aman rice- Fallow
6. Boro rice- Fallow
7. Boro rice- T. aman rice
8. Jhum cultivation
9. Perennial crops

(Source: H. Brammer, FAO Project Manager, Soil Survey Interpretation Project, Department of
Soil Survey, Dhaka)
Factors affecting cropping pattern:

Various factors determine the cropping patterns of a locality are as follows:

1. Climatic factors:

a) Atmospheric temperature: Atmospheric temperature greatly influences crop distribution

in different parts of the world.
- Tropical, Sub-tropical, Temperate, Polar.
b) Annual rainfall: Intensity and distribution of rainfall
- Arid, semi-arid, humid, sub-humid, wet.
c) Day length:
- Short day plant: T. aman
- Long day plant: Jute, Aus rice
- Day neutral plant: Maize, BR 3 rice
d) Atmospheric humidity:

-Evergreen forest, tea grows in the region having high atmospheric humidity.

2. Edaphic factors:

a) Land topography
b) Soil texture
c) Ground water table
d) Soil pH
e) Soil salinity
f) Soil moisture

3. Socio-economic factors:

a) Economic condition of the farmers

b) Communication facility
c) Market price
d) Food habit
e) Literacy and attitude of the farmers
 f) Storage facility

4. Availability of inputs and their price

5. Availability of technology

6. Government policy, research extension activities

7. Natural calamities:

a) Flood
b) Drought
c) Storm

Improvement of cropping pattern/General suggestion for improving the existing pattern:

1. Planting and harvesting of crops at proper time

2. Replace of less productive varieties: Species or varieties of crops found to have
difficulties in a pattern should be replaced/substituted with other suitable
species/varieties. As for example, tall stature rice may replace the short statured one
when depth of water is more. Long duration crop may be replaced with short duration
one, and photosensitive varieties/crops may be replaced with photoinsensitive
varieties/crops.
3. Introduction of new crops from foreign countries
4. Inclusion of more crops in the traditional cropping pattern: Single cropped area may be
transformed into double cropped area and double into triple cropped area. Cropping
intensity will thus be increased also.
5. Irrigation and drainage facility
6. Mulching
7. Marketing facilities
8. Storage facilities.
9. Advancing agricultural loan to the farmers.
10. Change of food habit.
11. Availability of inputs to the farmers.
12. Technological/mechanization improvement: Technology/mechanization for crop
production, harvesting, threshing and processing may improve cropping pattern.
13. Flood control
14. Soil amendment: Removal of salinity, alkalinity, change of soil pH etc.
15. Improve Govt. policy, research and extension activities
16. Develop environment friendly technology
Crop Rotation

Crop rotation is a process of growing different crops in succession on a piece of land in specific
period of time with an object to get maximum profit from least investment without impairing soil
fertility.

In this pattern, different crops are grown on the same land in preplanned succession. The crops
are classified as one-year rotation, two-year rotation, and three-year rotation, depending upon
their duration.

Principles of Crop Rotation:

1. Local demands for the crops are the prime consideration.

2. Good rotation should essentially include green manuring crops.
3. Rotation should create constant labor demand throughout the year.
4. The diversity of cropping and inclusion of a large number of directly suitable crops is
essential for economic reasons.
5. It should have the flexibility to introduce alternate crops under adverse conditions.
6. Smoother/cover crops should be included in rotation to control soil erosion.
7. It should include a food crop for consumption by the farmers and fodder crops for livestock.
8. A heavily manured crop should be included in rotation to maintain the uniformity of nutrient
status in soil.
9. Good rotation should include a leguminous crop.
10. Good rotation should include a profitable cash crop.
11. Good rotation should include one filled crop for elimination of weeds e.g. cabbage,
cauliflower, tobacco etc.
12. Deep rooted crops should be followed by shallow rooted crops.
13. Grain crops should be followed by leguminous crop.
14. Suitability of the crop should be taken into consideration.
15. Adjustment of the crop should be made according to irrigation facilities.
16. An ideal crop rotation is one which provides maximum employment to the family and farm
labour, farm machineries and equipments are efficiently used.
17. More exhaustive crops should be followed by less exhaustive crops.
18. The selection of crops should suit to the farmer’s financial conditions.
19. The crops selected should also suit to the soil and climate conditions.
20. The crop of the same family should not be grown in succession because they act like
alternate hosts for pests and diseases.
21. An ideal crop rotation is one which provides maximum employment to the family and farm
labour, farm machineries and equipments are efficiently used.

Benefits/advantages of Crop Rotation

1. Beneficial to succeeding crops.

2. Soil fertility is restored by fixing atmospheric nitrogen.
3. Encourages soil microbial activity.
4. Improves physico-chemical properties of the soil.
5. Avoids accumulation of toxins (HCN etc.).
6. Controls pests and diseases.
7. Controls weeds in the fields.
8. The family and farm labour, power, equipment and machineries are well employed.
9. Differential extraction of nutrients and moisture from different depths.
10. Proper utilization of all the resources and inputs.
11. Allows crop alteration.
12. Increases the quality of crops.
13. Helps in supplying of organic matter to soil.
14. Improves the texture, structure, and percolation capacity of the soil.
15. Reduces the chance of soil erosion.

Limitations of Crop Rotation

1. Rotation is not possible for perennial crops when grows as perennial e.g. mango, papaya.
2. Topography of land limits the crop rotation.
3. Special demand or profit for a particular crop in a locality is a limiting factor.
4. Soil type which is suitable for one or a few crops does not permit to follow crop rotation.
5. Unavailability of inputs in appropriate time is a limiting factor of crop rotation.
6. Instability of market price.
7. Weather conditions or other calamities may interfere with the rotation.
8. Allopathic effect of preceding crop.
9. Requirement of equipments and machineries varies from crop to crop.
10. Serves as alternate hosts for pests and diseases.

How are the crops selected for Rotation?

While selecting the crops for rotation, the following criteria should be adopted:

1. Enough moisture should be available.

2. Availability of fertilizers, man-power, and machine-power.
3. Marketing and processing facilities.
4. Availability of nutrients in the soil.
5. The crop duration- short or long.

Cropping Scheme

Cropping scheme may be defined as a detailed written statement prepared in advanced of a

cropping season to be followed in a farm pertaining to crop production, based on scientific
principles, giving distribution of crop in plots, estimated cost of various inputs, non-cultivation
charges.

It is the seasonal budget of a cropping program for a farm.

Objectives

1. To prepare the seasonal program of crop production.

2. To distribute different crops in different plots of the farm.
3. To know the input required and the cost of cultivation.
4. To utilize farm implements properly.
5. To utilize land properly.
6. To manage the farm efficiently.
Factors to be considered for preparing cropping scheme:

1. Crops to be selected considering the climate, soil and socio-economic condition.

2. Appropriate crop rotation should be followed.
3. Farmers need should be considered.
4. Availability of irrigation and drainage facility.
5. Residual effect of manures and fertilizers applied in the previous crop.
6. Availability of inputs and fund.
7. Cropping scheme of the previous season.
8. Present status of capital and loan facility.

Contents of a cropping scheme/ Information to be included in a cropping scheme:

1. Name and address of the farm.

2. Period of the scheme.
3. Name of the crops cultivated in the previous four years.
4. Details of the crops cultivated in previous season.
5. Details of the crops proposed in the present scheme.
6. Remarks.

Besides these, layout of the farm, labour requirement, time of sowing/transplanting, time of
fertilizer application, crop protection measures etc. should be included in the scheme.

Farming System:

A system consists of several components which depend on each other. A system is defined as a
set of elements or components that are inter-related and interacting among themselves. Farming
system consists of several enterprises like cropping system, dairying, piggery, poultry, fishery
bee keeping etc. These enterprises are interrelated.

Cropping Systems

Cropping System is an important component of a farming system. It represents cropping patterns

used on a farm and their interaction with farm resources, other farm enterprises and available
technology which determine their makeup. Cropping pattern means the proportion of area under
 various crops at a point of time in a unit area. It indicates the yearly sequence and spatial
arrangement of crops and fallow in an area.

Types of Cropping Systems

Depending on the resources and technology available, different types of cropping systems are
adopted on farm.

1. Monocropping /Sole Cropping/Monoculture: Only one crop or variety is grown alone in

pure stands at normal density season after season or year after year in the same field.

2. Multiple Cropping: Cultivation of two or more crops on the same piece of land in a year. The
intensification of cropping is in terms of time and space dimensions. Multiple cropping
systems can be classified as follows.

A. Sequential cropping
B. Intercropping
C. Mixed cropping

A. Sequential Cropping: Growing of two or more crops in sequence on the same piece of land in
the same year. The succeeding crop is planted or sown only after harvest of the preceding crop.
The crop intensification is only in terms of time dimension. Farmers will manage only one crop
at a time.
Types of Sequential Cropping
i. Double Cropping: Cultivation of two crops in succession on a piece of land in a
year.
ii. Triple Cropping: Cultivation of three crops in succession on a piece of land in a
year.
iii. Quadruple Cropping: Cultivation of four crops in succession on a piece of land in a
year.
iv. Ratoon Cropping/Ratooning: Cultivation of crop re-growth after its harvest is
rationing. It is also a type of sequential cropping. In this, more than one harvest is
done from one sowing/planting. Thus, ratooning consists of allowing stubbles of the
 original crop after harvesting and to raise another crop. Example: Sugarcane,
banana, rice.

B. Intercropping: Growing of two or more crops simultaneously on the same piece of land
which may or may not be sown or harvested at the same time.
Types of Intercropping
i. Mixed Intercropping/Mixed Cropping: Growing of two or more crops simultaneously on
the same piece of land with no distinct row arrangement.
ii. Row Intercropping: Growing of two or more crops simultaneously on the same piece of
land with distinct row arrangement.
iii. Stripe Intercropping: Growing of two or more crops simultaneously on the same piece of
land in strips wide enough to permit independent cultivation.
iv. Relay Cropping: Growing of two or more crops simultaneously on the same piece of land
during the part of the life cycle of each. The second crop is planted after the first crop has
reached its reproductive stage of growth but before it is ready for harvest. Example:
sowing of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus) in standing T. aman.
C. Mixed Cropping
Growing of two or more crops together on the same piece of land is called as mixed
cropping. In this, the seeds of different crops are mixed together and then sown either in lines
or they are board casted. This system is not scientific and it causes problem in performing all
agricultural operations and harvesting of crops. This system of cropping is generally
practiced in areas where climatic hazards such as flood, drought, frost etc. are frequent and
common. The farmers always fear that their crops will fail. The time of sowing of all the
crops is same; however they may mature either together or at different times.

Advantages/Importance/Objectives of Multiple Cropping

1. Better utilization growth resources like light, nutrients and moisture.
2. Economy in space and time.
3. Increases production per unit area.
4. Increases the scope of land utilization and diversification of crops.
5. Suppression of weeds.
 6. Serves as insurance against failure of any one of the component crops.
7. Reduces soil crust formation.
8. Improves soil fertility.
9. Ecological stability.
10. Controlling of soil erosion.
11. Serves as physical support or shading to some crops.
12. Additional income.
13. Provides farmer’s daily needs.
14. Provides employment and distribution of labour.
15. Cultivation practices for main crop supplement the requirement of companion crop.
16. Control of pests and disease.
Limitations Multiple Cropping

1. Competition for light, moisture, nutrient etc.

2. Differential maturity and problem of harvesting.
3. Difficult to harvest pure seeds.
4. Serves as alternate hosts for pests and diseases.
5. Control of pests, diseases and weeds is difficult.
6. Problem for intercultural operations.
7. Mechanization is difficult.
8. Competitive effects among component crops.
9. Allelopathic effect.

Pre-requisites of Multiple Cropping

For successful multiple cropping program, the following things must be made available:

1. Availability of most suited high yielding and short duration crop varieties.
2. Availability of genetically superior quality seed as planting materials.
3. An excellent physico-chemical property of soil should be maintained.
4. Availability of inputs and plant protection materials and equipments with technical details.
5. The area should not be prone to climatic hazards and all preventive measures should be taken
in advance to take any such challenge.
6. An efficient and regulated marketing facility should be provided to the growers that they get
remunerative prices of their produce.
7. The farmers must be acquainted with allelopathic effects of some crops and their weed
association so that the susceptible crops could be avoided in succession.

Principles of Intercropping

1. The plants grown in association should have complementary effects rather than
competitive effects.
2. A standard plant population of main crop should be maintained whereas that of subsidiary
crops population could be increased/decreased as per demand of the situation.
3. The planting method and management should be simple, less time consuming, economical
and profitable so that it may have wider adaptability.
4. Tall growing crops with short growing crops.
5. Bushy crops with erect growing crops.
6. Fast growing crops with slow growing crops.
7. Deep rooted crops with shallow rooted crops.
8. Short duration crops with long duration crops.
9. Legume crops with non-legume crops.
10. Crops should have least allelopathic effect.
11. Crops selected should be of different families to avoid pests and diseases.

Efficient Cropping System

 Depends on farm resources (land, labour, capital and infrastructer), farm enterprise and farm
technology.
 Adopting intensive cropping when land is limited.
 Growing vegetables when sufficient and cheap labour is available.
 Including capital intensive crops like sugarcane, banana, turmeric etc. when capital is not a
constraint.
 Following monocropping in low rainfall region (<750 mm/annum) and intercropping when
rainfall is more than 750 mm/annum.
 Adoption of triple and quadruple cropping when irrigation water is sufficient and other
climatic factors are not limiting.
 The influence of farm enterprises like dairying, poultry etc. in the type of cropping system
 Changes in cropping system with the development of technology.

Crop Intensification

Crop intensification may be defined as growing of crop with intensive care and management by
utilizing modern technique and technology to maximize production in a unit area of land with the
accommodation of more number of crops per year.

Objective

- To maximize production in a unit area of land in a year.

Advantages

1. Addresses food security issues more conveniently by producing more food.

2. Creates employment opportunity.
3. Systemizes farming activities by utilizing land, labors, capital through the year.

Disadvantages

Intensive cropping results in deterioration of soil fertility through nutrient mining and organic
matter depletion if proper management measures are not adopted.

Present Status

Intensive cropping has been practices over the year in Bangladesh. Modern varieties of crops,
fertilizers, pesticides and irrigation have been extensively practiced in crop culture which has
increased the crop productivity at the expense of soil fertility and soil health.

The crop intensification is the process of vertical expansion of crop production activities for
maximization of yield and total production per unit of land annum.

Constraints of Crop Intensification

 1. Unavailability/inadequacy of quality seed of improved varieties.
2. High cost of seed.
3. Price of fertilizer is high and lack of money to purchase.
4. There exists water crisis during drought situation.
5. Lack of space for raising seedling.
6. Inadequacy of labour supply during weeding and harvesting.
7. Scarcity of irrigation of water due to power failure.
8. Price of farm produce is not ensured.

Strategy for Crop Intensification:

1. Inclusion of new crop in the pattern.

2. Improvement of efficiency of existing cropping patterns through the use of improved
technologies like improved varieties, seed, fertilizer, water, pesticides and pre and post
harvest technologies.
3. Soil ameliorating crops whether food, feed, fodder or green manuring crops.
4. The use of organic and biofertilizer.
5. Preparation of compost, preservation of cow dung and management of crop residues in
the field.
6. Production and preservation of seeds of crops.
7. Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

The key issues for crop intensification are:

- For T. aman rice (MV) and boro rice (MV) containing patterns receive high amount of
fertilizers resulting in deterioration of organic matter if it is not replenished with organic
fertilizer.
- Modern Varieties (MV) of many crops are lacking, for example, in T. aman- Mustard-
boro rice-fallow short duration high yielding varieties are necessary. If it is available the
T.aman-boro rice-fallow in many areas.

The constraints as listed above are also the key factors for increased production.

Suggestion for Improvement

 1. Farmers are using a number of modern varieties of different crops in the sites based upon
their merits and demerits especially for rice. A large number of recently released modern
varieties of crops to be demonstrated in the sites for wider options for selecting varieties.
2. Fertilizer demonstration should be based on balanced concept.
3. For crop intensification and diversification, new crops other than rice may be introduced
in the existing cropping systems especially in the fallow period.
4. The constraints for crop intensification need to be resolved as far as possible.
5. During drought if necessary, there should be provision for supplemental irrigation.
6. Labour and costly devices and other equipments may be made available to the sites.

Crop Diversification

Crop diversification may be defined as the growing of different species of crops in a farm or area
or region or nation either in succession or simultaneously or both in the course of the year.

Objectives/Importance:

1. To obtain diverse food, feed, fiber etc. from the cropping system of a farm which may
help in diversifying food intake for balanced diet.
2. To maintain crop diversity and preserve ecological balance.
3. To maintain soil fertility and crop productivity by regulating or arranging appropriate
cropping patterns or crop rotation if possible.
4. To create employment opportunity for agricultural labour.
5. To help easy percolation of water to the space of decomposed roots of varying length of
different crops to deep in the soil thereby recharging the depleted aquifer to a
considerable extant.

Principles of Crop Diversification

1. Meeting the local need or demand.

2. Inclusion of green manuring crop.
 3. Creation of employment opportunity.
4. Diversity of cropping.
5. Inclusion of food crops, cover crops as well as fodder crops.
6. Flexibility of using alternating crops.
7. Inclusion of crops having high nutritional demand.
8. Inclusion of cash crops, tilled crops.
9. Marketing channel or local demand.
10. Sustainability of crops.

Present Status of Crop Diversification of Bangladesh

Diversified crop rotation is the traditional practice in Bangladesh. In recent years with the
introduction of modern varieties of rice and installation of irrigation facilities, the area of rice
crop has increased as the cost of diversified crops like pulses, oil seeds etc.

Future Strategy of Crop Diversity

1. Inclusion of more pulse and oilseed crops in the rice-rice cropping patterns.
2. Inclusion of crops of different species (food, feed, fodder, fibre) having different
characteristics like shallow rooted, deep rooted, high nutrient demand, high cash
generation, cereal altering with legume.
3. Inclusion of export oriented crops like vegetables, fruits etc.