crop rotation, mixed farming and mono cropping system of farming

 

 

CROPPING SYSTEMS

1. Identify and explain the different cropping systems.

advantages and disadvantages of each cropping system

The way a farmland is cropped varies from one farmer to the other system adopted may depend on the available farmland, the of agriculture (whether subsistence or commercial), the need of the farmer and so on. The following are the cropping systems commonly practiced by farmers.

 

1 Mono-cropping
This is the growing of only one type of crop (such as maize) on a piece of land. It could be for a season or for several years as in some farming system.
The system is also termed sole cropping.
what is crop rotation within the classification of crop
Advantages

1. It makes possible the use of machines in farm operation. 2. It leads higher productivity per hectare, 3. It also leads to specialization among farmers. 4. The control of weeds is easy. This is because herbicides can be used

Disadvantages of crop rotation

1. It is risky because crop failure arising from pest, diseases or weather conditions will result in total loss of income to the farmer for that year.

2. The system encourages the rapid spread of pests and diseases on the farm.

3. Labour may not be efficiently utilized throughout the year.

4. It does not afford the farmer a variety of crops.

 

2.

Mixed cropping advantages and disadvantages

READ MORE ABOUT PLANTING PROCESS HERE
This is also called multiple cropping because it involves the planting of more than one type of crop on the same farmland at a time.
It is very common under subsistence agriculture and in are where farmlands are limited. Under mixed cropping, the farmer could practice any of the following:
1. Farmers can keep their farms under continuous production.
2. There are no real need of artificial fertilizers which sometimes is very expensive.
3. The mixing of crops can help slow the spread of pest and other diseases in the growing season.
4. It also reduces the effects of adverse weather conditions for the farmer as planting and harvest is at different times of the season.
5. There are more land to be farmed with the same amount of labor and machinery.
6. According to some data present online, there is 10-30% increase in the yield in mixed farming versus monoculture.
7. There is no need in buying new implements every year for the cultivation of same crops
8. This system is a powerful way to improve agricultural yield
1. Some plant crops are very specific in the type of soil they need for effective growth.
2. This type of farming system is practiced in relation to the type of land available

 

 


3. Crops are not selected in mixed farming practices.
4. Crops for mixed farming can actively compete with one another for nutrients as a re it is difficult in choosing crops for planting
5. It also may reduce the fertility of the soil as more than one crop is grown at a time in the same piece of land.

(a) what is Inter-planting system of farming:

This is the growing of two crops together on the same land. The crop which was planted first is also harvest first while the one planted last remains on the plot to harvested later.

An example is the growing of maize and together. Maize, which is usually planted first, is also harvest first. Maize is therefore said to be inter-planted with yam.
LEARN MORE ABOUT MAIZE AS A CROP HERE

(b) what is Inter-cropping and it\’s advantages and disadvantages

This is when two crops are grown together with the crop planted last being harvested first.
Usually the c planted last has shorter lifespan than the one planted first, example is the planting of melon after yam has been plant The melon will be harvested first while the yam continues on plot. Yam is therefore said to be inter-cropped with melon.

 

 

 

Advantages of inter cropping1.

It affords the farmer a variety of crops.

2. It serves as insurance against the failure of one type of crops.

3. It minimizes the spread of diseases and pests on the farm.

4. It enables the crops to make efficient use of soil nutrients.

5. The ensures efficient utilization of labour throughout the year.

i. Inter-cropping gives additional yield income/unit area than mono-cropping.
ii. It acts as a cover against failure of crops in year of low yield
iii. Inter-crops improves the soil fertility as the nutrient of plants is made from both layers of soil.
iv. Reduces soil erosion and controls the growth of weeds.
v. Inter-cropping provide shade and support to the other crop.
vi. Inter cropping system uses resources efficiently
vii. Inter-cropping with cash crops is higher profitable.
viii. It helps to avoid inter-crop competition

Disadvantages of inter cropping

1. It does not encourage the use of machines on the farm.

2. It may lead to rapid exhaustion of soil nutrients if legumes not included.

3. It is labour intensive.

4. Pests and disease agents may persist on the farmland. This is because there are always food and alternative hosts for them.
a. Yield decreases as the crops have different competitive abilities.
b. Management of crops having different cultural practices seems very difficult
c. Improved tools cannot be used effectively.
d. Higher amount of fertilizer
e. Harvesting is difficult.

3. Continuous cropping system of farming

THE GROWING OF CROPS EACH YEAR IN SUCCESSION, WITHOUT A PERIOD OF FALLOW, WHICH ALLOWS SOIL FERTILITY TO RECOVER
This is the practice of putting a farmland under cultivation continuously, that is. from year to year. It may take any of forms:
READ ABOUT PLANTING PROCESS HERE

(a) Annual cropping system of farming

Planting annual crops which are replaced after harvesting. This means the land is cleared, tilled and cropped every season.
This is common where land is scarce

 

(b) Permanent cropping:
This involves planting and maintaining the crops, usually planting permanent crops continuously on a farm is also known as plantation farming.

Advantages of annual farming system

1. It reduces the cost of land preparation after the initial clearing and tilling.

2 It enables the farmer to construct permanent structures such as storage structures on the farm.

3 It tan be practiced where land is scarce.

Disadvantages of annual farming system

1. The fertility of the soil is easily exhausted.

2. It leads to destruction of soil structure.

3. It encourages soil erosion.

4. Yields me normally reduced with increasing years of cropping.

5. It encourages build-up of crop pests and disease agents.

6. It required high amount of money to keep the land fertile and productive.

4. Crop Rotation system of farming

This involves the planting of different types of crop in different plots on a farmland during one season; and at the beginning of the next season, the crops are changed from their respective plots, while following a definite order or sequence.
The system combines mixed cropping with continuous cropping and is mainly practiced by institutions of learning. For crop rotation to be successful,
certain principles must be followed Principles of Crop Rotation

(a) The same type of crop should not be allowed to follow each other on the same plot. For example, maize should not follow maize.

(b) Crops that belong to the same group should not also follow each other on the same plot, e.g. cassava should not follow yam, or to follow maize.

(c) Crops that have deep roots like yam and cassava, should be followed with those that have shallow roots such as maize and groundnut.

(d) Crops that consume a lot of nitrogen such as the-cereal group should be followed by those that add nitrogen to the soil such as maize and the legume group,

(e) Crops likely to be affected by the same disease and/or pest should not follow each other on the same plot. The number of crops involved in the rotation will determine the. type of rotation.
Therefore, there could be a two-year, three-year, or tour-year crop rotation. How to Design a Four-Year Crop Rotation

(a) Divide the farmland into four plots.

(b) Choose the crops to cultivate.

(c) Plant one crop on each plot, making sure the principles guiding the adoption of the system are adhered to.

(4) At the end of one season, shift the crop from plot B to A, C to B, D to C and A to D as shown in Figure 3.2.1.

(5) Follow this sequence until the fourth year is reached.
Year
Plot A
Plot B
Plot C
Plot D
1 Maize Cassava Groundnut Yam and Melon
2 Cassava Groundnut Yam and Melon Maize
3 Groundnut Yam and Melon Maize Cassava
4 Yam and Melon Maize Cassava Groundnut Figure 3.2.1:
A Four-Year Crop Rotation,

Advantages

1. It helps to maintain soil fertility.

2. It makes efficient use of soil nutrients.

3. The farmer has access to a variety of crops.

4. It minimizes the spread of diseases and pests and helps to check weeds

5. It reduces soil erosion.

6. It leads to efficient utilization of labour.

7. It is a good practice where land is scarce.

8. PEST MANAGEMENT
9. INSECTS
10 TREATMENT OF DISEASES
11. WEEDS)
12. IMPROVEMENT OF SOIL PROPERTIES:
I3. IT INCREASES ORGANIC MATTER
I4 .IMPROVES SOIL FERTILITY
15. DISTRIBUTION OF LABOR INPUTS:
16. PLANTING TIMES
17. HARVESTING

PERIOD OF FALLOW, WHICH ALLOWS SOIL FERTILITY TO RECOVER

Disadvantages

1. It is labour intensive.

2. Crop yields may decrease with years except additional manures or fertilizers are applied.

3. It leads to destruction of soil structure which may facilitate soil erosion.

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CROPPING SYSTEMS

1. Identify and explain the different cropping systems.

2. Give the advantages and disadvantages of each cropping system

 

The way a farmland is cropped varies from one farmer to the other system adopted may depend on the available farmland, the type of agriculture (whether subsistence or commercial), the need of the farmer and so on. It is worthy of note that farming practice is not static as such it is evolving. So in this article we shall consider the most widely practiced farming system the world over

The following are the cropping systems commonly practiced by farmers.

1 Mono-cropping

This is the growing of only one type of crop (such as maize) on a piece of land. It could be for a season or for several years as in plantation farming. The system is also termed sole cropping. Most often this type of farming practice involves mechanization.

Advantages

1. It makes possible the use of machines in farm operation.

2. It leads higher productivity per hectare,

3. It also leads to specialization among farmers.

4. The control of weeds is easy. This is because herbicides can be used

5. It employs more labor thereby leading to greater harvest

Disadvantages

1. It is risky because crop failure arising from pest, diseases or weather conditions will result in total loss of income to the farmer for that year.

2. The system encourages the rapid spread of pests and diseases on the farm.

3. Labour may not be efficiently utilized throughout the year.

4. It does not afford the farmer a variety of crops.

5. Most often it requires high capital investment

6. It can’t be practiced within an area where there is community farming

 

2. Mixed cropping

This is also called multiple cropping because it involves the planting of more than one type of crop on the same farmland in one planting season. It is very common under subsistence agriculture and in are where farmlands are limited. Under mixed cropping, the farmer could practice any of the following:

 

(a) Inter-planting system of farming: This is the growing of two crops together on the same land. The crop which was planted first is also harvest first while the one planted last remains on the plot to harvested later. An example is the growing of maize, cassava, groundnut, melon, yam and okra together on the same piece of land in one planting season. Maize, which is usually planted first, is also harvest first. Maize is therefore said to be inter-planted with yam.

(b) Inter-cropping method of farming This is when two crops are grown together with the crop planted last being harvested first. Usually the c planted last has shorter lifespan than the one planted first, example is the planting of melon after yam has been plant The melon will be harvested first while the yam continues on plot. Yam is therefore said to be intercropped with melon.

Advantages intercropping method of farming

1. It affords the farmer a variety of crops.

2. It serves as insurance against the failure of one type of crops.

3. It minimizes the spread of diseases and pests on the farm.

4. It enables the crops to make efficient use of soil nutrients.

5. The ensures efficient utilization of labour throughout the year.

Disadvantages

1. It does not encourage the use of machines on the farm.

2. It may lead to rapid exhaustion of soil nutrients if legumes not included.

3. It is labour intensive.

4. Pests and disease agents may persist on the farmland. This is because there are always food and alternative hosts for them.

3. Continuous cropping system of agriculture

This is the practice of putting a farmland under cultivation continuously that is from year to year. It may take any of form: this type of farming practice usually lead to soil loss of nutrients, becoming acidic

(a) Annual cropping: Planting annual crops which are replaced after harvesting. This means the land is cleared, tilled and cropped every season. This is common where land is scarce. this type of farming is mostly practiced in the southern parts of Nigeria

(b) Permanent cropping: This involves planting and maintaining the crops, usually permanent crops continuously on the farm land, it usually in plantations.

Advantages of continuous cropping method

1 It reduces the cost of land preparation after the initial clearing and tilling.

2 It enables the farmer to construct permanent structures such as storage structures on the farm.

3 It can be practiced where land is scarce.

Disadvantages of continuous cropping method

1. The fertility of the soil is easily exhausted.

2. It leads to destruction of soil structure.

3. It encourages soil erosion.

4. Yields me normally reduced with increasing years of cropping.

5. It encourages build-up of crop pests and disease agents.

6. It required high amount of money to keep the land fertile and productive.

4.       The practice of  Crop Rotation

This involves the planting of different types of crop in different plots on a farmland during one season; and at the beginning of the next season, the crops are changed from their respective plots, while following a definite order or sequence. The system combines mixed cropping with continuous cropping and is mainly practiced by institutions of learning.

For crop rotation to be successful, certain principles must be followed

Principles of Crop Rotation

(a) The same type of crop should not be allowed to follow each other on the same plot. For example, maize should not follow maize.

(b) Crops that belong to the same group should not also follow each other on the same plot, e.g. cassava should not follow yam, or to follow maize.

(c) Crops that have deep roots like yam and cassava, should be followed with those that have shallow roots such as maize and groundnut.

(d) Crops that consume a lot of nitrogen such as the-cereal group should be followed by those that add nitrogen to the soil such as maize and the legume group,

(e) Crops likely to be affected by the same disease or pest should not follow each other on the same plot. The number of crops involved in the rotation will determine the type of rotation. Therefore, there could be a two-year, three-year, or tour-year crop rotation.

How to Design a Four-Year Crop Rotation

(a) Divide the farmland into four plots.

(b) Choose the crops to cultivate.

(c) Plant one crop on each plot, making sure the principles guiding the adoption of the system are adhered to.

(4) At the end of one season, shift the crop from plot B to A, C to B, D to C and A to D

(5) Follow this sequence until the fourth year is reached.

Year

Plot A

Plot B

Plot C

Plot D

1

Maize

Cassava

Groundnut

Yam and Melon

2

Cassava

Groundnut

Yam and Melon

Maize

3

Groundnut

Yam and Melon

Maize

Cassava

4

Yam and Melon

Maize

Cassava

Groundnut

Advantages crop rotation

1. It helps to maintain soil fertility.

2. It makes efficient use of soil nutrients.

3. The farmer has access to a variety of crops.

4. It minimize the spread of diseases and pests and helps to check weeds

5. It reduces soil erosion.

6. It leads to efficient utilization of labour.

7. It is a good practice where land is scarce.

Disadvantages

1. It is labour intensive.

2. Crop yields may decrease with years except additional manures or fertilizers are applied.

3. It leads to destruction of soil structure which may facilitate soil erosion.

I want to re-iterate here that the various cropping systems listed in this article are not the final list of the various farming practices, so as you read this article and there remembered any not listed here please feel free to leave your comment

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IRRIGATION SYSTEMS
20. INCUBATORS
21. MILKING MACHINE
22. SIMPLE FARM TOOLS
23. AGRICULTURAL MECHANIZATION
24. THE CONCEPT OF MECHANIZATION
25. PROBLEMS OF MECHANIZATION
26. SURVEYING AND PLANNING OF FARMSTEAD
27. IMPORTANCE OF FARM SURVEY
28. SURVEY EQUIPMENT

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