Bio-diversity is defined “the sum of genotypic and phenotypic difference in living organisms at the molecular, individual, population and ecosystem level. Sustenance of mankind and other species solely depends on the sustenance of our rich bio-diversity. It has profound implications in the sustainable agricultural production as it holds the key to continuous supply of new varieties and providing continuous adaptation to changing environment. At the beginning, man was relying on hunting of wild animals and collecting fruits and tubers from forest for his food. Later with the start of sedentary agriculture, he started domesticating some of the wild species for his food, clothing, medicine etc.
Mixed cropping is one of the most ancient agricultural practices. It involves growing of more than one crop on the same piece of land simultaneously. The crops grown in mixed stand is called mixed cropping or when planted in district a row is called inter-cropping. The crops with varied seeding or planting times, growth habits, root systems and harvesting periods allow better exploitation of soil nutrients, sunlight and moisture. The risks of damage due to diseases, insect-pests and vagaries of climate are reduced. Mixed cropping tends to produce higher total yields per unit of given area as compared to the pure crop of each of the component particularly when traditional crop varieties are used. However, adoption of modern agricultural practices such as weed, disease and insect-pest control methods is hindered. Similarly mechanical harvesting is not possible. A large number of crops are traditionally mixed or inter sown with wheat. These include mustard, barely, gram, linseed, safflower, field pea etc. This practice is most common under rain fed condition. However, mustard is mixed or inter cropped with wheat both under rain fed and irrigated conditions all across the country and particularly in the north - western gram and safflower
Mixed cropping is growing of two or more crops simultaneously on the same piece of land, one being the main crop and the others as subsidiaries. It is also known as multiple cropping / Multi story cropping. This type of cropping leads to an improvement in the fertility of the soil, maintain pest and disease and hence, increase in crop yield because when the two crops are properly chosen the products and refuse from one crop plant help in the growth of the other crop plant and vice-versa. Mixed cropping is an insurance against crop failure due to abnormal weather conditions.
Mixed cropping is one of the most ancient agricultural practices. It involves growing of more than one crop on the same piece of land simultaneously. The crops grown in mixed stand is called mixed cropping or when planted in district a row is called inter-cropping. The crops with varied seeding or planting times, growth habits, root systems and harvesting periods allow better exploitation of soil nutrients, sunlight and moisture. The risks of damage due to diseases, insect-pests and vagaries of climate are reduced. Mixed cropping tends to produce higher total yields per unit of given area as compared to the pure crop of each of the component particularly when traditional crop varieties are used. However, adoption of modern agricultural practices such as weed, disease and insect-pest control methods is hindered. Similarly mechanical harvesting is not possible. A large number of crops are traditionally mixed or inter sown with wheat. These include mustard, barely, gram, linseed, safflower, field pea etc. This practice is most common under rain fed condition. However, mustard is mixed or inter cropped with wheat both under rain fed and irrigated conditions all across the country and particularly in the north - western gram and safflower
Mixed cropping is growing of two or more crops simultaneously on the same piece of land, one being the main crop and the others as subsidiaries. It is also known as multiple cropping / Multi story cropping. This type of cropping leads to an improvement in the fertility of the soil, maintain pest and disease and hence, increase in crop yield because when the two crops are properly chosen the products and refuse from one crop plant help in the growth of the other crop plant and vice-versa. Mixed cropping is an insurance against crop failure due to abnormal weather conditions.
Manjunath Holalu
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