Cropping Patterns in India, Types, Factors, Major Crops

Cropping Pattern refers to specific arrangement & combination of crops cultivated in a particular area during a specific time period. Know all about Cropping Patterns in India.

Table of Contents

Cropping Patterns

Cropping Patterns are the intricate tapestries that farmers weave across their fields, shaping the landscape of agricultural productivity. These cropping patterns determine the arrangement and combination of crops grown within a specific region, accounting for various factors such as climate, soil conditions, available resources, and farming practices. By carefully selecting and implementing suitable cropping patterns, farmers can optimize their yields, enhance soil health, and mitigate risks. This article looks into various Cropping Patterns types and related aspects.

Read More: Climatology

What is Cropping Pattern?

Cropping Pattern can be inferred as the arrangement and combination of different crops cultivated in a particular area, taking into consideration factors such as climate, soil conditions, water availability, market demand, and farming practices.

Read More: Types of Soil in India

Factors that Determine Cropping Pattern

Various factors that determine cropping pattern, can be summarized as follows:

Climate: The prevailing climatic conditions, including temperature, rainfall, and humidity, influence the choice of crops suitable for a particular region.
Soil Type: Different types of soil have varying nutrient levels, water-holding capacity, and drainage characteristics, which impact crop selection and adaptability.
Water Availability: The availability of water resources, such as irrigation facilities or rainfall patterns, influences the choice of crops and their water requirements.
Market Demand: Farmers consider the demand and market prices for various crops to make decisions on what to cultivate, ensuring the profitability and marketability of their produce.
Farming Practices: Traditional or local farming practices, as well as the availability of machinery, equipment, and labour, play a role in determining the cropping pattern.
Farm Size: The size of the farm and the resources available to the farmer affect the feasibility of implementing specific cropping patterns.
Government Policies: Government policies, subsidies, and support for specific crops may influence farmers’ choices and the overall cropping pattern in a region.
Crop Suitability and Yield Potential: The adaptability of crops to the local conditions and their potential yield in a particular region are important factors considered when selecting cropping patterns.
Pest and Disease Management: The prevalence of pests and diseases in a region can influence the choice of crops and the need for crop rotation or intercropping to manage these challenges.
Farmer’s Knowledge and Experience: The knowledge, skills, and experience of farmers in a particular region also influence the selection of crops and cropping patterns.

Read More: Types of Winds

Major Cropping Patterns

Cropping patterns worldwide encompass a diverse array of agricultural practices employed across different regions and climates. These patterns reflect the ingenuity and adaptation of farmers in maximizing productivity while considering local conditions. From the simultaneous cultivation of multiple crops in mixed cropping to the sequential rotation of crops in crop rotation, and the resource partitioning of intercropping, cropping patterns aim to optimize resource utilization, sustain soil health, and mitigate risks.

These practices are found globally, demonstrating the universal importance of strategic crop planning in achieving sustainable and productive agriculture. Here is the description of major cropping patterns in the world along with their main characteristics and indicative regions.

Cropping Pattern	Characteristics	Major Regions
Mixed Cropping	Simultaneous cultivation of two or more crops on the same land Maximizes resource utilization Reduces the risk of crop failure Increases overall productivity	India: Wheat + Mustard (Punjab and Haryana), Cotton + Soybean (Maharashtra), Maize + Groundnut (Karnataka) China: Maize + Soybean, Wheat + Rapeseed Africa: Maize + Beans, Sorghum + Groundnut
Crop Rotation	Sequential cultivation of different crops on the same land Maintains soil fertility Prevents pest and disease buildup Optimizes nutrient utilization	United States: Corn + Soybean, Wheat + Soybean, Corn + Cotton Europe: Wheat + Barley, Wheat + Oilseed Rape, Barley + Legumes Asia: Rice + Wheat (China, Vietnam), Rice + Mustard (India), Rice + Sugarcane (Thailand) Australia: Wheat + Canola
Intercropping	Simultaneous cultivation of two or more crops in the same field Resource partitioning among crops Maximizes land use Diversifies income sources	Brazil: Maize + Soybean Nigeria: Maize + Cowpea Indonesia: Rice + Soybean Canada: Canola + Lentils
Multiple Cropping	Growing two or more crops on the same land in a single agricultural year Utilizes favourable agro-climatic conditions Maximize productivity	Southeast Asia: Rice + Fish, Rice + Shrimp India: Rice + Wheat (Punjab and Haryana), Aman paddy + Jute (West Bengal) China: Rice + Fish, Rice + Rapeseed Egypt: Wheat + Legumes
Sole Cropping	Cultivating a single crop on a piece of land during a specific cropping season Focuses on maximizing the yield of a specific crop Can be risky due to the vulnerability	United States: Corn, Soybean, Wheat Brazil: Soybean, Sugarcane Russia: Wheat Australia: Barley, Canola

Read More: Coastal Landforms

Cropping Pattern in India

Cropping patterns in India encompass the diverse agricultural practices employed across the country. These patterns involve the strategic arrangement and combination of crops to optimize productivity, mitigate risks, and sustain soil health. With a rich agricultural heritage and varying climatic conditions, India showcases a multitude of cropping patterns such as mixed cropping, crop rotation, intercropping, multiple cropping, and sole cropping. Here is a table that describes them along with their characteristics and main indicative regions.

Cropping Pattern	Characteristics	Main Regions
Mixed Cropping	Simultaneous cultivation of two or more crops on the same land Maximizes resource utilization Reduces the risk of crop failure Increases overall productivity	Punjab and Haryana: Wheat + Mustard Maharashtra: Cotton + Soybean Karnataka: Maize + Groundnut
Crop Rotation	Sequential cultivation of different crops on the same land Maintains soil fertility Prevents pest and disease buildup Optimizes nutrient utilization	Punjab and Haryana: Rice/wheat + Maize + Sugarcane Andhra Pradesh and Telangana: Rice + Red gram (Tur) Tamil Nadu: Rice + Cotton + Black gram (Urad)
Intercropping	Simultaneous cultivation of two or more crops in the same field Resource partitioning among crops Maximizes land use Diversifies income sources	Maharashtra and Gujarat: Cotton + Groundnut Punjab and Haryana: Cotton + Moong (Green gram) Bihar and Jharkhand: Paddy + Black gram (Urad)
Multiple Cropping	Growing two or more crops on the same land in a single agricultural year Utilizes favorable agro-climatic conditions Maximize productivity	Punjab and Haryana: Wheat + Rice West Bengal: Aman paddy + Jute Karnataka: Ragi + Cowpea
Sole Cropping	Cultivating a single crop on a piece of land during a specific cropping season Focuses on maximizing the yield of a specific crop Can be risky due to the vulnerability	Punjab and Haryana: Wheat Uttar Pradesh: Sugarcane Andhra Pradesh: Tobacco

Read More: Extensive Farming

Cropping Pattern and Cropping System

Here is a tabulated comparison between the cropping pattern and cropping system:

	Cropping Pattern	Cropping System
Definition	Refers to the specific arrangement and combination of crops grown in a particular area.	Refers to the overall plan of crop cultivation, including the sequence and combination of crops.
Focus	Emphasizes the arrangement and combination of crops at a smaller scale, field or farm level.	Takes a broader perspective and considers the overall planning and management of crops at a larger scale, such as a region or farming system.
Scope	Relates to the specific types of crops grown and their arrangement within a particular cropping season or year.	Considers the long-term management and rotation of crops over multiple cropping seasons or years.
Factors	Factors influencing cropping patterns include climate, soil type, water availability, market demand, farming practices, and farmers’ preferences.	Factors influencing the cropping system include crop rotation, intercropping, multiple cropping, fallow periods, use of cover crops, and other management practices.
Timeframe	Focuses on the immediate season or year and the arrangement of crops during that specific period.	Considers the long-term planning and management of crops over multiple years or cropping cycles.
Example	Mixed cropping, crop rotation, intercropping, multiple cropping, and sole cropping are examples of cropping patterns.	Sequential rotation of crops (wheat → maize → legumes), intercropping of maize and legumes, or multiple cropping systems involving rice, fish, and vegetables are examples of cropping systems.

Read More: Intensive Farming

Cropping Pattern UPSC

The topic of cropping patterns holds significant importance for the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) examination as it falls under the ambit of the UPSC Syllabus, particularly paper 3 of general studies mains. It is essential to grasp the characteristics, benefits, and regional variations of cropping patterns to comprehend agricultural practices, sustainability, and food security. Sound knowledge of cropping patterns equips aspirants to answer questions related to agriculture, rural development, and environmental issues, which are prominent themes in the UPSC examination. Aspirants can avail of UPSC Online Coaching and take UPSC Mock Test to have a firm grip on such important topics.

Read More: Subsistence Farming

Cropping Pattern FAQs

What are cropping patterns examples?

Cropping pattern examples include mixed cropping, crop rotation, intercropping, multiple cropping, and sole cropping.

What are the cropping patterns in India?

The cropping patterns in India include mixed cropping (wheat + mustard, cotton + soybean), crop rotation (rice/wheat + maize + sugarcane, rice + red gram), intercropping (cotton + groundnut, paddy + black gram), multiple cropping (wheat + rice, aman paddy + jute), and sole cropping (wheat, sugarcane, tobacco).

What are the factors of cropping pattern?

The factors of cropping pattern include climate, soil type, water availability, market demand, farming practices, and farmer's preferences.

What is cropping system and pattern?

Cropping system refers to the overall plan of crop cultivation, including the sequence and combination of crops, while cropping pattern refers to the specific arrangement and combination of crops grown in a particular area.