The choice of crops in a cropping system depends on factors such as climate, land type, soil type, length of growing period, availability of moisture, labor availability, inputs and credit, insect pests and diseases, holding size, demand for a part of the produce for self-consumption, disposal of farm produce, and economic returns of marketable surplus. The basic approach in an efficient cropping system is to obtain higher production and better economic returns through the efficient use of inputs. Efforts have been made to design efficient cropping systems that have high yield, more returns, high resource-use efficiency, and sustainability over a longer period. Considering the wide variability of the above mentioned parameters and the importance of rice as a major crop in all the agro-climatic zones of Odisha, various rice-based cropping systems and cropping patterns involving pulses, millets, and oilseeds have been suggested.
Agro-climatic zones of Odisha
Depending on physical features, soil types, rainfall, etc., the state is divided into four physiographic zones (Coastal Plains, Central Tableland, Northern Plateau and Eastern Ghats) and ten distinct agro-climatic zones with varied characteristics. Rice is considered to be the major crop in all the agro-climatic zones of Odisha (Gangopadhayay 1991). However, the state is broadly divided into two zones, the Plateau Region and coastal alluvial plain.
The Plateau Region
The Plateau Region contains about 85% of the geographical area, with predominantly red and yellow laterite and lateritic soils. The soils are highly leached, low in exchangeable bases and acidic, low in organic matter, and low in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Soil texture varies from sandy to sandy loam to loamy to clayey depending on the topography. In the higher reaches, soils are coarse textured and highly drought prone. The region has 2.75 million hectares of rice land constituting about 62% of the total rice area of the state. The region is differentiated into eight distinct agro-climatic zones. Total rice production in this region is estimated to be 4.23 million tons, with a productivity of 1,538 kg/ha.
The Coastal Region
This region contains about 15% of the geographical area of the state and it runs along the coastline having width varying from 24 km to 72 km from the sea coast. The soils are alluvial, both deltaic and coastal. The deltaic alluvial soils are generally fertile but low in N and P. The coastal alluvial soils within 10 km of the sea coast show high total soluble salts, mainly sodium chloride due to tidal inundation. The coastal belt has about 1.70 million hectares of rice land constituting about 38% of the total rice area. The rice land generally suffers from serious waterlogging problems and is flood prone. The region has two distinct agroclimatic zones. Total rice production in this region is estimated to be 2.68 million tons with a productivity of 1,577 kg/ha.
North-Western Plateau
Agriculture districts: Sundargarh, Part of Deogarh, Part of Sambalpur and Part of Jharsuguda
Geographical area (❛ 000 ha): ): 1,291
Soil types: Red, lateritic, red and yellow, red and black, brown forest
Irrigation sources: Pitamahal, Hirakud
Climate: Hot and moist, sub-humid
Rainfall (mm): 1240
Gross cropped area (❛ 000 ha): 581
Cultivated area (❛ 000 ha): 457
Cropping intensity (%): 127.1
Main crops grown: Rice, vegetables, blackgram, greengram, sesamum
