Which of the following statements is/are correct about cropping systems? (A) Inclusion of legumes in the cropping systems (B) Intercropping is a cropping system in which two or more crops are grown together on the same field during a growing season (C) Green manure crop is grown in the cropping system for the primary purpose of ploughing under to improve soil fertility (D) Multiple cropping is the sequential production of two or more different crops from the same field each year
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct option is C

The correct answer is (C) (A), (B), (C) and (D)

Explanation:
• Statement (A): Correct. Legumes are often included to fix atmospheric nitrogen and improve soil health.
• Statement (B): Correct. Intercropping involves growing two or more crops simultaneously on the same piece of land (e.g., Wheat + Mustard).
• Statement (C): Correct. Green manuring involves growing a crop (like Dhaincha or Sunnhemp) and incorporating it into the soil while still green to add organic matter and nitrogen.
• Statement (D): Correct. Multiple cropping is the general term for growing more than one crop on the same field in a single year (includes sequential and intercropping).

Information Booster:
• Relay Cropping: Sowing the second crop before the harvest of the first crop.
• Mono-cropping: Growing only one crop on the same land year after year.

Additional Knowledge:
• All these practices are components of sustainable agriculture intended to maximize land use efficiency and preserve soil productivity.