CHAPTER-15

IMPROVEMENT IN FOOD RESOURCES

CLASS WORK - 4
CLASS IX B&I
28th July-3rd August -2015

IRRIGATION&CROPPING PATTERNS

Irrigation is the artificial application of water to land. It is necessary for the following reasons
It provides water which is the source of two essential nutrients, hydrogen and oxygen.
Water moistens the soil and seeds and promotes seed germination
Roots of crops require water for growth
It helps in absorption of nutrients by the crops from the soil.
Need for irrigation in India
India is an agricultural country and needs water at the right time for its economic growth.
Rainfall in India is seasonal and occurs mainly in summer (monsoon). Water is needed for cultivation of
winter crops (rabi), when rainfall is not sufficient
The distribution of rainfall in India is uneven and unequal. Some parts receive too much rainfall while
others parts get very little rainfall.
Irrigation is important for cultivation in arid regions.
Methods of irrigation
India has a wide variety of water resources and a highly varied climate. Under such conditions, several different
kinds of irrigation systems are adopted to supply water to agricultural land depending on the kinds of water
resources available.
1. Well Irrigation- Wells may be dug (surface) wells or tube wells.
Dug wells- Can be constructed where water table is high and more or less permanent, and the ground
is made of soft rocks to facilitate digging.
Disadvantages
Not deep enough and may run dry. They can irrigate only a small area.

Tube wells- Is a very deep bore dug into the ground with a drilling machine and water is pumped out
with the help of electricity. It taps water from deeper strata.
Advantages
Can irrigate larger areas than surface wells.
More reliable during periods of droughts.
2. Canal Irrigation- One of the most important methods of irrigation. In parts where the rivers are perennial.
water from these rivers are stored in reservoirs by building dams across the river. The water is then distributed
to the fields through a net work of canals and distributaries.
3. Tank Irrigation- Tanks are constructed by building earthen or brick walls across a valley or depression,
behind which rain water collects. This water is then used during the dry months.
Advantages
It is easy and economical to construct.
It allows the monsoon waters to be stored and used later.
4. River Lift System- Areas close to rivers meet their water requirement by lifting water directly from the
rivers in case canal flow is insufficient or irregular.
5. Fresh initiatives There include rainwater harvesting, drip irrigation and water shed management (activities
which conserve soil and water in a river catchment). In water shed management small check dams are built that
increase ground water level and also prevent soil erosion and wastage of rainwater

DUG WELL

TUBE WELL

TANK IIRIGATION

CANAL IRRIGATION

NOTE- ALL DIAGRAMS ONLY FOR REFERENCE

CROPPING PATTERNS
It includes different ways of growing crops which would give maximum benefit
Mixed Cropping- Growing two or more crops simultaneously on the same piece of land also
known as multiple cropping examples- growing of wheat and gram, wheat and mustard, groundnut
and sunflower, soya bean and pigeon pea

MIXED CROPPING OF MUSTARD, WHEAT AND BEANS

Advantages
Reduces risk and gives some assurance against -failure of one of the crops
There is a variety of produce
It increases the yield
It minimizes pest damage
Disadvantages
Nutrients (fertilizers) cannot be given separately to the plants
No separate harvesting is possible of the crops

Inter- Cropping- Growing two or more crops simultaneously on the same field in definite row pattern.
A few rows of one crop alternate with a few rows of the second crop. The crops are selected such that
their nutrient requirements are different. Examples- soya beans and maize, or finger millet (bajra) and
cow pea (lobia).

INTERCROPPING OF SOYA BEAN AND MAIZE

Advantages
No risk of crop failure
Variety of produce
It makes better use of natural resources of sunlight, land, and water.
Ensures maximum utilization of nutrient supply
Prevent pest attack and diseases from spreading to all plants belonging to one crop in the field
Soil erosion is reduced.
Since seed maturity periods of these crops vary, the different crops can be harvested and threshed
separately.
The produce of each crop can be marketed and consumed separately.

Crop Rotation- Growing of different crops on a piece of land in a pre-planned succession is known as crop
rotation.
Selection of crops for crop rotation depends upon duration
Crop rotation is done for different crop combination
Availability of moisture and irrigation facilities decide the choice of crop to be cultivated after one
harvest.

Advantages
By rotating winter and summer crops, pest and weeds can be controlled.
It balances the fertility demand of various crops to avoid excessive depletion of soil nutrients
The nitrogen supply is maintained when leguminous crops are altered with cereal crop. This reduces
fertilizer needs.
If done properly two to three crops can be grown in a year with good harvest

Note- All diagrams only for reference.

Recapitulation-4
1] What is the advantage of inter-cropping? Explain giving one example.
2] What is mixed farming/cropping? How does it help a farmer?
3] Define crop rotation. Give its advantages. While choosing plants for crop rotation, what factors
should be kept in mind? (H.W)
4] Mention the factors that are taken into consideration for deciding choice of crops for inter-cropping
5] There is a water reservoir near the village and a river flows near the village. Due to insufficient rain
Farmers are worried about their crops. Suggest and explain the irrigation practice that can be
adopted to supply water to the entire agricultural land in the village.
6] If there is low rainfall in a village throughout the year, what measures will you suggest to the farmers
For better cropping ?
Seema Misra