1.1. Cropping Systems

A cropping system is a broader term than cropping pattern and includes the sum total of all crops and the practices used to grow those crops on a field or farm. It comprises of all components, such as water, soil, technology etc. required for the production of a

particular crop and the interrelationships between them and the surrounding environment.

For example, in a Simple Cropping System only one variety of crop is grown each year in the same field with regular fertilizer application to replenish the soil nutrients. While in a Complex Cropping System multiple crops like fruits, vegetables, tree crops, grain, fodder crops and livestock are all grown on a farm during a year with multiple harvests along with managed recycling of nutrients within the system.

While talking about cropping systems we tend to apply systems approach to crops.