In agriculture, multiple cropping or multicropping is the practice of growing two or more crops in the same piece of land during one year, instead of just one crop. When multiple crops are grown simultaneously, this is also known as

intercropping Intercropping is a multiple cropping practice that involves growing two or more crops in proximity. In other words, intercropping is the cultivation of two or more crops simultaneously on the same field. The most common goal of intercropping is ...

. This cropping system helps farmers to double their crop productivity and their income. But, the selection of two or more crops for practicing multicropping mainly depends on the mutual benefit of the selected crops. Threshing can be difficult in multiple cropping systems where crops are harvested together. It can take the form of double-cropping, in which a second crop is planted after the first has been harvested. In the

Garhwal Himalaya The Garhwal Himalayas are mountain ranges located in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. Geology This range is also a part of Himalaya Sivalik Hills, the outer most hills of the Himalaya located in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Major peaks ...

of India, a practice called

barahnaja Barahnaja (lit. "twelve seeds") is an ancient traditional system of multiple cropping that is practised in the Indian mountainous state of Uttarakhand. The term literally means "twelve seeds or food grains" in Garhwali, and refers to the twelve ty ...

involves sowing 12 or more crops on the same plot, including various types of beans, grains, and millets, and harvesting them at different times.

Benefits of multiple cropping

Adopting the practice of multiple cropping on a large scale can help in reducing the food crises of a country. The overall cost of input decreases, cost spent on fertilizers, irrigation, labour, etc. reduces because of growing two or more than two crops on the same field. Risk of weed growth, pest and disease infestation reduces because of mutual relationship within the crop. This results in better farm management and increased income of the farmer. However, only 5% of global rainfed cropland is under multiple cropping, while 40% of global irrigated cropland is under multiple cropping.

References

External links

* ''Improving nutrition through home gardening'
Home Garden Technology Leaflet 12: Multiple cropping
FAO, 2001 Crops Agronomy {{agri-stub

Benefits of multiple cropping

See also

References

External links