Question

What are the three types of cropping pattern? Explain them. (In three points)

Answer 1

the three types of cropping patterns are:
i)Rabi crop ( i.e. Spring crop in Arabic ) (crop period October-February): Crops which are grown during the winter season are called Rabi crop. Seeds of these crops are sown in the beginning of the winter season. After maturation of crops, they are harvested in the spring(March-April). A good rain in winter spoils the rabi crops but is good for kharif crops. Rabi require low temperature(10°C to 25 °C) and low rain fall(50cm to 100cm) comparing to Rabi crop, So it can grow in North India (Subtropical Zone) .

Example: Wheat, Mustard…

ii) Kharif crop (i.e. Autumn crop in Arabic ) (crop period July-October): Crops which are grown during the monsoon(rainy season) are called kharif crop. Seeds of these crops are sown in the beginning of the monsoon season (July). After maturation, these crops are harvested in the Autumn season (Oct). Kharif require high temperature(25°C to 35 °C) and high rain fall(150cm to 200cm) 
Example: rice, cotton, sugarcane, turmeric, moong, corn

iii)zaid crops:On the Indian sub-continent, the crops grown on irrigated lands which do not have to wait for monsoons, in the short duration between Rabi and Kharif crop season, mainly from March to June, are called Zaid crops (also written as Zayad crops). These crops are grown mainly in the summer season during a period called the "Zayad crop season." They require warm dry weather for major growth period and longer day length for flowering. The main produce are seasonal fruits and vegetables.

Answer 2

Cropping pattern is a dynamic concept because it changes over space and time. It can be defined as the proportion of area under various crops at a point of time. In other words, it is a yearly sequence and spatial arrangement of sowing and fallow on a given area. In India, the cropping pattern determined by rainfall, climate, temperature, soil type and technology.

The cropping patterns in India can be presented by taking the major crops into consideration as the base crop and all other possible alternative crops. It is very important to identify crops and their showing agro-climatic condition so that they can be categorized. For example, wheat, barley and oats, are taken as one category.

List of Food Grains and their required agro-climatic condition

Food Grains

Agro-Climatic Condition

Rice

Temperature: 22 -32 degree Celsius

Rainfall: 150-300 cm

Soil Type: Deep clayey and loamy soil

Wheat

Temperature: 10-15  degree Celsius (Sowing time)

Temperature: 21-26  degree Celsius (Ripening & Harvesting)

Rainfall: 75-100 cm

Soil Type: Well-drained fertile loamy and clayey loamy

Millets

Temperature: 27-32  degree Celsius

Rainfall: 50-100 cm

Soil Type: They are less sensitive to soil deficiencies. They can be grown in inferior alluvial or loamy soil

Grams

Temperature: 20-25  degree Celsius (Mild cool & Dry Climate)

Rainfall: 40-45 cm

Soil Type: Loamy Soil

Sugar Cane

Temperature: 21-27  degree Celsius

Rainfall: 75-150 cm

Soil Type: Deep rich loamy soil

Cotton

Temperature: 21-30  degree Celsius

Rainfall: 50-100 cm

Soil Type: Black soil of Deccan and Malwa Plateau. However, it also grows well in alluvial soils of the Sutluj-Ganga plain and red and laterite soils of the peninsular region

Oilseeds

Temperature: 20-30  degree Celsius

Rainfall: 50-75 cm

Soil Type: Well drained light sandy loams, red, yellow and black soils are well suited for its cultivation.

Tea

Temperature: 20-30  degree Celsius

Rainfall: 150-300 cm

Soil Type: Well drained, deep friable loamy soil.

Coffee

Temperature: 15-28  degree Celsius

Rainfall: 150-250 cm

Soil Type: Well drained, deep friable loamy soil.

What are the factors responsible for the formation of Soil?

Regional distribution of crops in India

 

 

Cereals

Wheat

Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana

Rice

West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu

Gram

Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu

Barley

Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan

Bajra

Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan

 

Cash Crops

Sugarcane

Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra

Poppy

Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh

 

 

Oil Seeds

Coconut

Kerala and Tamil Nadu

Linseed

Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh

Groundnut

Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu

Rape & Mustard

Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh

Sesame

Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan

Sunflower

Maharashtra and Karnataka

 

 

Fibre Crops

Cotton

Maharashtra and Gujarat

Jute

West Bengal and Bihar

Silk

Karnataka and Kerala

Hemp

Madhya Prad