Multiple cropping
Topic: Land Use, Farming Systems and Cropping Seasons in India · NCERT: Class 7, Ch 1 "The Story of Indian Farming"; Class 8, Ch 1 "Natural Resources and Their Use"
Meaning
Multiple cropping means growing two or more crops on the same field in one year. The crops may be grown one after another or at the same time. It gives harvests at regular times through the year and spreads risk, so at least one crop survives if another fails. It also raises cropping intensity (gross cropped area ÷ net sown area × 100), which suits a country like India with little land and many workers.
Example
In irrigated Punjab, farmers grow paddy in kharif and then wheat in rabi on the same field. Partly because of this, Punjab's cropping intensity is close to 190%, against an all-India figure of about 150-155% (verify current).
Don't confuse with
- Mixed cropping: two or more crops grown together on the same field at the same time. It is only one form of multiple cropping.
- Crop rotation: changing which crop is grown from season to season so the soil does not lose particular nutrients.