Farming Systems Approach – Concepts, Scope and Applicability in Rainfed Agriculture

Rainfed agriculture occupies 68% of India’s cultivated area and supports 40% of the human and 60% of the livestock population. It produces 445 of the food requirement, thus has and will continue to play a critical role in India’s food security. However, aberrant behaviour of monsoon rainfall, eroded and degraded soils with multiple nutrient and water deficiencies, declining ground water table and poor resource base of the farmers are principle constraints for low and unstable yields in rainfed areas (Singh, et al, 2004). Increasing crop productivity to meet food requirements of teaming millions in our country poses a greater challenge. In this context, there is a need to enhance the productivity of rainfed crops from at least 1 to 2 t to meet the food requirements by 2020 AD. Hence, the situation calls for efforts to intensify the production in both time and space. This could be possible by developing appropriate cropping and farming systems in rainfed agriculture. 1.0 Cropping Systems In order to critically analyse the crop and area specific problems and potentials, the rainfed areas have been divided into five major production systems viz., Nutritious Cereals, oilseeds, Rainfed rice, Pulses, Cotton and Soybean based systems. The guiding principles for selection of crops and varieties for efficient management of resources n rainfed areas are: land use capability concept, Water availability concept, crop substitution, quantity and distribution of rainfall, soil depth and performance of crops. Effective growing period concept is mostly used in deciding cropping systems in different agro-climatic zones. In kharif season, the rainfall both in terms of quantum and distribution decides the effective growing season and it becomes critical in selecting cropping systems for a given reason. A beneficial effect of 15-25% on yield was demonstrated by the crop substitution strategy, which means by replacing one crop with another appropriate crop. Soil depth and available moisture determines the selection of crops and cropping systems for a given region. In rabi season available moisture in soil profile at sowing time dictates the choice of crops in a given cropping system. In regions, receiving 350-600 mm of rainfall and 20 weeks effective growing season. Intercropping (150% cropping intensity) is possible in regions having 20-30 weeks of effective growing season from 650-750 mm of rainfall. In areas receiving more than 750 mm of rainfall and having an effective growing season of more than 30 weeks double cropping (2000% cropping intensity) is assured (Singh and Subba Reddy, 1986). Early planting and harvesting at physiological maturity of crops, less number of tillage operations, deep placement of fertilizers for rabi crops are crucial for succeeding double cropping.