Cropping systems refer to the combination of crops, tillage practices, and other management practices that are used on a particular piece of land. There are several different cropping systems that are used around the world, each with its own unique set of advantages and disadvantages. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at cropping systems, exploring what they are, why they are important, and the different types of cropping systems that are commonly used.
What are Cropping Systems?
Cropping systems are the set of practices that are used to grow crops on a particular piece of land. These practices include things like crop rotations, tillage practices, and the use of cover crops, among other things. Cropping systems are used to optimize crop production while minimizing the negative impacts on the environment.
Cropping systems are important for a number of reasons. They help to maintain soil health, reduce erosion, and improve water quality. They also help to reduce the need for chemical inputs, such as fertilizers and pesticides, which can be expensive and harmful to the environment. 
Types of Cropping Systems
There are several different types of cropping systems that are commonly used around the world. Here are some of the most common types:
- Monoculture: Monoculture is a cropping system in which a single crop is grown on a particular piece of land. This type of cropping system is simple and easy to manage, but it can lead to soil degradation and pest problems.
- Crop Rotation: Crop rotation is a cropping system in which different crops are grown in succession on a particular piece of land. This type of cropping system helps to maintain soil health and reduce pest problems.
- Intercropping: Intercropping is a cropping system in which two or more crops are grown on the same piece of land at the same time. This type of cropping system can help to improve soil health and reduce pest problems.
- Agroforestry: Agroforestry is a cropping system in which crops are grown in combination with trees or other perennial vegetation. This type of cropping system can help to improve soil health, reduce erosion, and provide other environmental benefits.
- Conservation Tillage: Conservation tillage is a cropping system in which the amount of tillage is reduced in order to maintain soil health and reduce erosion. This type of cropping system can help to improve soil health and reduce pest problems.
Benefits of Cropping Systems
Cropping systems offer a number of benefits, both for farmers and for the environment. Here are some of the most important benefits:
- Increased Soil Health: Cropping systems can help to maintain soil health by reducing erosion and increasing the organic matter content of the soil.
- Reduced Pest Problems: Cropping systems can help to reduce pest problems by using crop rotations, intercropping, and other management practices that reduce the buildup of pests.
- Reduced Chemical Inputs: Cropping systems can help to reduce the need for chemical inputs, such as fertilizers and pesticides, which can be expensive and harmful to the environment.
- Improved Water Quality: Cropping systems can help to improve water quality by reducing erosion and the runoff of chemicals and nutrients into waterways.
- Increased Biodiversity: Cropping systems can help to increase biodiversity by providing a habitat for a variety of plants and animals.
Challenges of Cropping Systems
While cropping systems offer many benefits, they also come with some challenges. Here are some of the most important challenges:
- Complexity: Cropping systems can be complex and require a lot of management, which can be difficult for some farmers.
- Yield Variability: Cropping systems can sometimes result in lower yields, particularly in the short term.
- Economic Viability: Some cropping systems may not be economically viable for all farmers, particularly those with limited resources.
TYPES OF CROPPING SYSTEMS
The cropping system can be referred to as the different patterns of growing crops in the farm. A farmer may be growing only one type of crop or many types of crops on the same piece of land, at the same time in each growing season.
MONO CROPPING OR SOLE CROPPING
Mixed cropping
Inter-cropping
INTER-PLANTING OR CATCH CROPPING
Alley cropping
CONTINUOUS CROPPING
Multiple cropping
MONOCULTURE
MONOCROPPING
TAUNGYA FARMING
CROP ROTATION
(i) Shifting cultivation
(ii) Continuous cropping
(iii) Monocropping
(iv) Mixed cropping
(v) Pastoral farming
(vi) Ranching
(vii) Agro-forestry
(viii) Taungya system
(ix) Bush fallowing/land rotation
(x) Crop rotation
(xi) Monoculture
(xii) Mixed farming
(xiii) Nomadic herding
(xiv) Ley farming
(xv) Alley cropping
(xvi) Ecological/Organic farming
Cropping Systems
The cropping system can be referred to as the different patterns of growing crops in the farm. A farmer may be growing only one type of crop or many types of crops on the same piece of land, at the same time in each growing season.
TYPES OF CROPPING SYSTEMS
MONO CROPPING OR SOLE CROPPING
This is a system of cropping where one type of crop is grown on a farm or the same piece of land at the same time. Mono-cropping is usually practised on large-scale farms, where crops such as oil palm, cocoa, kola nuts, rubber, rice, millet, maize, sorghum, etc. are grown.
In mono-cropping, crops tend to remain in a particular land or farm for many years where permanent or tree crops are grown, while in the case of annual crops, the farmer grows a particular crop e.g. maize which is harvested at maturity before planting another one on the same piece of land. read about diseases and pests of maize here
This system of cropping can only be successful, where there is plenty of farmland.
read the article on the land tenure system here
ADVANTAGES OF MONO-CROPPING
(i) Mono-cropping encourages specialization
(ii) It encourages the mechanization of the farm operation
(iii) Through mono-cropping, the management of farm crops is made easy.
(iv) The farmer can easily improve on the various farm operations to increase yield
DISADVANTAGES OF MONO-CROPPING
(i) The system is very risky. The farmer may lose all his crops if there is an outbreak or epidemic of pests, diseases, floods or drought.
(ii) There may be a build-up of pests and diseases on the farm.
(iii) The system might lead to a glut in the market of such crops, causing low prices. The glut may be caused by good or surplus harvest.
(iv) Farmers may be discouraged from producing more if there is low pricing in the world market of cash crops such as cocoa and rubber.
Mixed cropping:
This system involves the growing of two or more crops on the same piece of land at the same time, during the same growing season. This system is very common among small-scale farmers in Nigeria and West Africa. Crops commonly grown under this system include yam, cassava, maize, cocoyam, pepper, okra and melon. The crops are mixed together on the same piece of land. Mixed cropping is commonly practised where farmland is in shortfall. Mixed cropping can be categorized into two forms namely: inter-cropping and inter-planting.
Inter-cropping :
This is a system where a crop is grown in between another crop, and the crop planted first is harvested last, while the crop planted last is harvested first. For example, yam can be inter-cropped with melon. The yam is planted first before the melon is planted, but the melon is harvested first before the yam. The principle of inter-cropping is that an early maturing crop is planted among late-maturing crops, which is normally planted first, but the short-season crop is harvested first.
INTER-PLANTING OR CATCH CROPPING
This system involves the planting of two crops at different times, and the crop planted first is harvested first before the second crop. For example, maize is said to be inter-planted with (i.p.w) yam or cassava. The maize is planted first before the yam or cassava is planted, and the maize is harvested first, while the yam or cassava is harvested later.
ADVANTAGES OF MIXED CROPPING
(i) Mixed cropping provides insurance against crop failure, in the sense that when one crop fails, the farmer falls back on the other crops.
(ii) The fertility of the soil is used to its maximum by growing crops.
(iii) Protection against soil erosion by the extensive root systems and leaves is guaranteed by the crops.
(iv) Spread of pests and diseases is minimal
(v) The fertility of the soil can be improved with the inclusion of legumes in the system
DISADVANTAGES OF MIXED CROPPING
(i) It discourages farm mechanization
(ii) It is difficult to use chemicals, e.g. herbicides, to control weeds under this system, because such herbicides may be harmful to some of the crops.
There are competitions between crops for nutrients, air, water, space and light, which may seriously reduce the yield of the less competitive crops
FACTORS THAT DETERMINE THE USE OF FARMING SYSTEMS
There are many factors that may be responsible for the use of a particular system in any given area. These include:
(i)
Environmental factors
Climatic factors which include rainfall, relative humidity and temperature, in no small way determine the type of crops that can be grown in an area. For example, tree crops such as oil palm, cocoa and kola-nuts are grown in the Southern part of Nigeria, due to heavy rainfall and other favourable climatic conditions such as high relative humidity and vegetational cover (forest zone), while crops such as millet and sorghum are grown in the Northern part, which is covered by grassland due to high temperature, low rainfall and low relative humidity, which favour the growth of such crops.
Soil factors which are also environmental factors such as structure, texture and nutrient availability also determine the type of crops that can be grown on a particular soil. For example, deep loamy soil can be used for growing a number of crops such as yam, cassava, cocoyam, etc. Soil such as sandy soil cannot give a good yield for such crops. Also, heavy clay soil does not favour the growth of groundnut.
(ii)
Social factors:
These factors include the taste and religious beliefs of some people in an area. For .example, pigs are not kept or reared by Muslims, because they forbid the eating of pork. Some cultures in the country forbid the eating of goat meat, due to their local belief or taste, while it is a delicacy to some.
(i)
Land tenure system:
This is a system of inheritance that greatly determines the type of farming system that may be used at a particular time in an area. For example, if the land in an area belongs to the community (land tenure system), it is very difficult for an individual to practice large-scale farming, because such land is usually shared to every member of that community in small portions of small-scale farming.
WEED AND THEIR BOTANICAL NAMES
1. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AFFECTING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION
2. DISEASES
3. 52. SOIL MICRO-ORGANISMS
4. ORGANIC MANURING
5. FARM YARD MANURE
6. HUMUS
7. COMPOST
8. CROP ROTATION
9. GRAZING AND OVER GRAZING
10. IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE
11. IRRIGATION SYSTEMS
12. ORGANIC MANURING
13. FARM YARD MANURE
14. HUMUS
15. COMPOST
16. CROP ROTATION
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