INTER AND SEQUENTIAL CROPPING (CROP ROTATION) IN RICE

1. INTER AND SEQUENTIAL CROPPING (CROP ROTATION) IN RICE Next End

2. RICE BASED CROPPING SYSTEMS IN INDIA • In rice growing areas several crop combinations (cropping systems) are in practice based on agro-ecological conditions, market and domestic needs and facilities available with farmers, some of the most prominent ones are being discussed under: Previous Next End

3. 1. Mixed varietal cropping of rice  2. Intercropping rice with other crops  3. Relay cropping  4. Sequential cropping in rice 5. Rice under integrated farming system Previous Next End

4. 1. MIXED VARIETAL CROPPING OF RICE • System of mixing seed of early rice (ahu) with late maturing deep water rice (bao) is being practices in West Bengal to avoid total crop loss at the event of flood. • The seed of both the types of mixed in 1:1 ratio and has given higher yield than sole cropping of either type. • Similarly growing of a mixture of autumn and winter varieties in 3:1 ratio in Tamil Nadu and Kerala is very much in practice. • However, under normal conditions it has created problems in performing agricultural operations like harvesting, deciding fertilizer doses etc Previous Next End

5. 2. INTERCROPPING RICE WITH OTHER CROPS • It is a common practice under upland conditions in north and north-eastern part of the country to grow rice intercropped with black gram, green gram, sesame, maize, finger millet or other miner millets. • The ratio of rice and inter crop is preferred to be 3-4:1. Previous Next End

6.  3. RELAY CROPPING • The seed of succeeding crops like lentil, gram, pea, lathyrus, berseem, linseed etc. is sown broadcast in maturing rice crop. • This practice saves time; money (to be spent on land preparation etc.) utilizes residual fertility. • This practice is common in both upland and lowland rice culture. Previous Next End

7. 4. SEQUENTIAL CROPPING IN RICE • Sequential cropping refers to the crops grown as preceding or succeeding with rice as shown below; Irrigated conditionsunder upland •        Rice-Rice-Rice                                             Rice-Chickpea •        Rice-Rice-Cereal                                Rice-Lentil •        Rice-Rice-Pulses                             Rice-Mustard/Linseed •        Rice-Wheat-Pulse                                          Rice-Barley •        Rice-Toria- Wheat                                          Rice – Wheat •        Rice – Wheat                                                 Rice – Wheat •        Rice – Mustard                                               Rice – Pea Previous Next End

8. 5. RICE UNDER INTEGRATED FARMING SYSTEM • Rice-Fish-Poultry • Rice-Fish-Duckery • In North India where irrigation facilities exist, a number of cropping systems of crops involving rice are feasible. • After harvest of rice, crops like potato, berseem, toria etc., can be sown and will fit very well in intensive crop rotations. • In rainfed areas too, where the soils are well drained and have good moisture retention capacity, legume crops like chickpea, lentil could be grown. Previous Next End

9. Some of the cropping systems are given below (B) Un-irrigated Areas Rice- chickpea Rice- lentil Rice- field pea (A) Irrigated Areas- Rice-wheat Rice- potato-urd (black gram) Rice- toria-wheat Rice- wheat -moong (green gram) Rice-potato -moong (green gram) Rice- pea (for pods) -moong (green gram) Rice-wheat -Jute Rice- field peas -sugarcane. Previous Next End

10. In case of intensive crop rotations where there are more than two crops in a year, a paddy variety of early duration should be selected. • In South India, where the winter temperature is not so low, double cropping of rice is practised. • In eastern India, in low-lying areas a crop of jute is grown followed by rice. Some of the cropping systems are as below: Rice -rice-wheat Jute -rice-wheat Rice-maize-jute Rice- potato-jute Previous Next End

11.  IN TAMILNADU • The rice is cultivated for a very long time under wet, dry and garden land ecosystem. • Under dry cultivation, the dry seed was sown either by broadcasting or dropped in lines after country plough. • It was also sown as mixed crop along with red gram. • This practice is still being followed in Ramanthapuram district. • In Chingleput, Thiruvallur, Kancheepuram the seeds are sown in dry conditions but subsequently the crop is irrigated when the tanks get filled up with the onset of monsoon. Previous Next End

12. It certain parts of North Arcot, South Arcot, Chingleput and Salem districts, rice is cultivated as a garden land crop under irrigation. • Some of the rice based cropping patterns being followed in the in Tamil Nadu are discussed below:- Previous Next End

13. Rice - Rice-Rice: • This crop rotation is most suitable for areas having high rainfall and assured irrigation facilities in summer months, particularly, in soils which have high water holding capacity and low rate of infiltration. • In some canal irrigated areas of Tamil Nadu, a cropping pattern of 300% intensity is followed. In such areas three crops of rice are grown in a year. Previous Next End

14. Rice-Groundnut • This cropping pattern is being followed by the farmers Tamil Nadu. • After harvesting of rice crop, groundnut is grown in summer. Rice fallow cultivation • Rice + Pigeon pea • Rice + green gram (moong bean) • Rice + Black gram, urd bean • Rice + Black gram Previous