Cropping Systems in Modern Agriculture

A cropping system refers to the order in which the crops are grown or cultivated on a piece of land over a fixed period of time. Modern agricultural practices are based on the concept of sustainability. Sustainable cropping systems are a group of agricultural practices that aim to fulfill the increasing demands of agricultural products for the growing population. At the same time, it also seeks to reduce the adverse effects of crop production on environment. There are three main types of cropping systems, namely, monoculture, rotation cropping, and multiple cropping. Crop rotation is a system of growing different types of crops on the same land in recurrent succession. Nitrogen management is another sustainable cropping system that seeks to achieve the dual goals of increasing crop and animal productivity, and decreasing nitrogen losses to acceptable levels in order to reduce air and water pollution. Some other sustainable cropping systems or methods include residue management, cover crops, crop management, and organic management. The book studies, analyzes, and upholds the pillars of sustainable cropping systems and their utmost significance in modern times. It aims to equip students and experts with the advanced topics and upcoming concepts in this area of study.