Vegetable Based Cropping System

The cropping patterns used on a farm and their interaction with farm resources, farm enterprises,
and available technology which determine their makeup is considered as cropping system. It
deals with the yearly sequence and spatial arrangement of crops and fallow on a given area.
Cropping system comprises all components required for the production of a particular crop and
the interrelationships between them and environment. In the cropping systems, sometimes a
number of crops are grown together or separately at short intervals in the same field.

Basic principles of cropping system:

• Choose crops that complement each other

• Choose crops and a cropping rotation which utilize available resources efficiently

• Choose crops and a cropping system that maintain and enhance soil fertility

• Choose crops which have a diversity of growth cycle

• Choose diverse species of crops

• Strategically plan and modify the cropping system as needed

Objective of cropping system:

The main objective of cropping system is efficient utilization of all resources viz. land, water,
and solar radiation which maintain stability in production and obtaining higher net returns. The
efficiency is measured by the quantity of produce obtained per unit resource in a unit time.

Classifications of Cropping System:

Depending on the resources and technology available, different types of cropping systems are
adopted on farms, as below

1. Sole cropping (monoculture)

2. Intensive cropping: (a) Multiple cropping, (b) Intercropping

3. Sequential cropping

4. Crop rotation

Monocropping: This is where the field is used to grow only one crop season after season. It is
also known as solid planting.

Intensive cropping: Growing number of crops on the same piece of land during the given period
of time is called as intensive cropping. It is divided into two types:
 (a) Multiple cropping: Growing two or more crops on the same field in a year is considered as
multiple cropping. In this type of cropping annual and perennial plants can be organized in fields
together. It is a form of polyculture.

(b) Intercropping: Growing two or more crops simultaneously on the same field is called as
intercropping. In this system there is intercrop competition during all or part of crop growth. It is
further sub-divided as:

(i) Mixed intercropping: Growing two or more crops simultaneously with no distinct row
arrangement.

(ii) Strip intercropping: Growing two or more crops simultaneously in strips wide enough to
permit independent cultivation but narrow enough for the crops to interact.

(iii) Row intercropping: Growing two or more crops simultaneously where one or more crops are
planted in rows. It is often simply referred to as intercropping.

(iv) Relay intercropping: Growing two or more crops simultaneously during the part of the life
cycle of each. In this system second crop is planted after the first crop has reached its
reproductive stage of growth but, before it is ready for harvest.

Favorite combinations for intercropping:

Vegetables Suggested location

Arugula between tomatoes under pole beans or trellised cucumbers
Basil between tomatoes
Bush beans between tomatoes, peppers, or eggplant
Beets between brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower), onions, leeks, or zucchini
Carrots between bush beans, leeks, or tomatoes
Cilantro between leeks
Lettuce under corn, pole beans, or tomatoes; between celery, celeriac, leeks, or brassicas
Onions between cabbage plants (or any other member of the brassica family)
Parsley between tomatoes
Radishes everywhere (they’re said to help repel pests when planted with cucumbers or squash)
Spinach under pole beans or trellised cucumbers and between leeks, turnips, and brassicas
Winter squash under corn

Sequential cropping: Sequential cropping is growing two or more crops in sequence on the
same field in a farming year. The succeeding crop is planted after the preceding crop has been
harvested. In this type of system crop intensification is only in time dimension and there is no
intercrop competition. It is divided into two types:
(a) Double, triple and quadruple cropping: Growing two, three and four crops, respectively, on
the same land in a year in sequence.

(b) Ratoon cropping: The cultivation of crop re-growth after harvest, although not necessarily for
grain.

Example: Fennel: ratoon; Broccoli: ratoon

Crop Rotation: Changing the type of crops grown in the field each season or each year (or
changing from crops to fallow) is called as crop rotation. There are different types of crop
rotation, such as:

(a) Rotation by plant type: Legume (peas and beans), fruiting vegetable (eg, capsicum), leafy
green vegetable (e.g. lettuce, cabbage), finally, root crop (eg. potato)

(b) Rotation by plant family: set up beds with these plant families-

• Brassicaceae (cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, brussels sprouts, kohlrabi, radish, , turnip,

mustard greens)
• Solanaceae (tomato, capsicum, potato, eggplant)
• Fabacace (broad bean, bean, peas)
• Cucurbitaceae (cucumber, squash, pumpkin, watermelon, rockmelon)
• Apiaceae (carrot, celery, coriander, dill, parsley)
• Chenopodiaceae (silver beet, beetroot, spinach)
• Asteraceae (lettuce, globe artichoke, Jerusalem artichoke, )
• Alliaceae (onion, shallot, leek).

Principles

Crops with tap roots should be followed by crops with a fibrous root system as this helps in the
proper and uniform use of nutrients from the soil. In addition, roots do not compete with each
other for the uptake of nutrients

➢ Legumes should be grown after non legumes as they fix atmospheric nitrogen into the soil
and add more organic matter to the soil

➢Exhaustive crops (crops which need more inputs like more fertilizer, irrigation, insecticide
etc.) should be followed by less exhaustive crops, which require less care (i.e., Potato should be
followed by leguminous crops)

➢Selection of crop should be demand-based (that is, crops needed by the market should be
chosen as it can be sold at a higher price)
➢Crop selection also depends on land type, irrigation facilities, soil and climatic considerations.
Financial constraints of the farmer should also be kept in mind.

Any cropping pattern, if followed correctly, will have several advantages. These advantages are:
❑Agricultural operations can be done on time, for all the crops because of less competition,

❑Soil fertility is restored by fixing atmospheric nitrogen, encouraging microbial activity.

❑Weeds, disease and insects can often be more easily managed ❑Proper utilization of all
resources and inputs is made as the farmer, his labour, power, equipment and machines are well
employed throughout the year

❑Growing crops of different nature ensures best utilization of residual moisture, fertility and
organic residues.

❑It also improves percolation, soil structure and reduces chances of creation of hard pan in sub-
soil zone.

Conclusion:

Any cropping pattern, if followed correctly, will have several advantages as mentioned below:

• Agricultural operations can be done on time, for all the crops because of less competition.
• Soil fertility is restored by fixing atmospheric nitrogen, encouraging microbial activity.
• Weeds, disease and insects can often be more easily managed.
• Proper utilization of all resources and inputs is made as the labour, power, equipment and
machines are well employed throughout the year
• Growing crops of different nature ensures best utilization of residual moisture, fertility
and organic residues.