Question

The practice of growing different crops in recurrent succession on the same land is known as

• A. Crop cycle
• B. Crop rotation
• C. Intercropping
• D. Mixed cropping

Hint:

A classic crop rotation is alternating deep-rooted crops (like cotton) with shallow-rooted crops (like ragi) to utilize nutrients from different soil depths and maintain balanced soil structure.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Agricultural systems utilize different crop planting patterns to optimize land productivity, manage soil nutrients, and break pest and disease cycles.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us define the agricultural practices listed in the options:
1. Crop Rotation (B): This is the practice of growing different crops in a planned, recurrent sequence on the same piece of land over successive planting seasons (e.g., planting a nitrogen-fixing legume after a nitrogen-consuming cereal crop).
This practice preserves soil structure, prevents nutrient depletion, and breaks pest life cycles.
2. Intercropping (C): This is the practice of growing two or more different crops simultaneously on the same field in distinct, alternating rows.
3. Mixed Cropping (D): This is the practice of mixing and sowing seeds of different crops together on the same land simultaneously, without distinct row arrangements.
4. Crop Cycle (A): This refers to the developmental timeline of a single crop from sowing to harvest.
Therefore, growing different crops in recurrent succession on the same land is crop rotation.

Step 3: Final Answer:
This practice is known as Crop rotation, corresponding to option (B).