Cropping pattern refers to proportion of area under different crops at different points of time. There are various crop statistics are used to denote cropping pattern which include temporal changes of crop cultivation area, crop combination and crop diversification. The study of cropping pattern constitutes an important aspect of agricultural geography as it provides a good basis for agricultural regionalization. The crops are generally grown in combinations and it is very rare to say that a particular crop occupies a position of total area at a given time. The physical factors may determine the shape of the areas of crops, while the socioeconomic relationships determine their extent.

Figure 2

The Table 2 and Figure 2 shows the Cropping Pattern of major selected crops that are grown in the state of Karnataka in the year 2003-04 and 2017-18. The major crops are - Paddy, Ragi, Jowar, Bajra, Maize, Wheat, Pulses, Sugarcane, Cotton. The entire state covered a total geographical area of 7745484 hectares i.e. 40.7% in 2003-04 which increased to 8254095 hectares i.e. 43.3% in 2017-18 accompanied by a total change of 2.7%. The highest positive change is seen in Pulses i.e. 7.8% (increased from 26.6% in 2003-04 to 34.4% in 2017-18) followed by Maize i.e. 7.4% (increased from 8.4% in 2003-04 to 15.8% in 2017-18), Sugarcane i.e. 1.5% (increased from 4.9% in 2003-04 to 6.4% in 2017-18) and Cotton i.e. 0.8% (increased from 5.1% in 2003-04 to 5.9% in 2017-18). The reason behind this increment is that these crops don’t require high amount of water and can be cultivated in any land. There is a severe negative change seen in the cropping pattern of the selected crops in the state. Among the crops, Jowar undergoes the highest change i.e. -10.4% (decreased from 23.1% in 2003-04 to 12.6% in 2017-18) followed by Paddy i.e. -4.2% (decreased from 14.9% in 2003-04 to 10.7% in 2017-18), Bajra i.e. -1.3% (decreased from 3.9% in 2003-04 to 2.6% in 2017-18), Wheat i.e. -0.8% (decreased from 3.2% in 2003-04 to 2.3% in 2017-18) and Ragi i.e. -0.7% (decreased from 9.9% in 2003-04 to 9.2% in 2017-18). The reason behind this decrement is due to lack of irrigation facilities.

Figure 3

The Table 3 and Figure 3 shows the Temporal Changes of Paddy cultivation in the year 2003-04 and 2017-18. The state is divided into 4 divisions - Bengaluru, Belagavi, Kalburgi and Mysuru divisions. The entire state covered a total geographical area of 1154783 hectares i.e. 14.9% in 2003-04 which decreased to 883647 hectares i.e. 10.7% in 2017-18 accompanied by a total change of -4.2%. A positive change is seen in the Kalburgi divisions i.e. 0.6% (increased from 10.5% in 2003-04 to 11.1% in 2017-18). A severe negative change is seen in the Mysuru divisions i.e. -10.1% (decreased from 31.7% in 2003-04 to 21.6% in 2017-18) followed by Bengaluru divisions i.e. -6.1% (decreased from 20.0% in 2003-04 to 13.9% in 2017-18) and Belagavi divisions i.e. -3.7% (decreased from 9.1% in 2003-04 to 5.4% in 2017-18). The reason behind this decrement is that paddy requires a high amount of water or irrigational facility, urbanization and the agricultural lands are converted into settlement areas. Because of less rainfall, the Krishna Raja Sagara Dam is not able to supply the required amount of water for irrigation purpose which hampers the cultivation of paddy. Again, a major cause is the Kaveri water dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, plays a major role in the decrement of paddy cultivation.

Figure 4

The Table 4 and Figure 4 shows the Temporal Changes of Ragi cultivation in the year 2003-04 and 2017-18. The state is divided into 4 divisions - Bengaluru, Belagavi, Kalburgi and Mysuru divisions. The entire state covered a total geographical area of 767148 hectares i.e. 9.9% in 2003-04 which decreased to 756194 hectares i.e. 9.2% in 2017-18 accompanied by a total change of -0.7%. The highest change is seen in the Bengaluru divisions i.e. 1.8% (increased from 34.0% in 2003-04 to 35.8% in 2017-18) followed by Kalburgi divisions i.e. 0.4% (increased from 0.3% in 2003-04 to 0.7% in 2017-18).The reason behind increment is that it can be cultivated in drier areas and also in water availability areas. A negative change is seen in Mysuru divisions i.e. -0.4% (decreased from 26.1% in 2003-04 to 25.7% in 2017-18) and Belagavi divisions i.e. -0.1% (decreased from 0.1% in 2003-04 to 0.0% in 2017-18).

Figure 5

The Table 5 and Figure 5 shows the Temporal Changes of Jowar cultivation in the year 2003-04 and 2017-18. The state is divided into 4 divisions - Bengaluru, Belagavi, Kalburgi and Mysuru divisions. The entire state covered a total geographical area of 1786237 hectares i.e. 23.1% in 2003-04 which decreased to 1043275 hectares i.e. 12.6% in 2017-18 accompanied by a total change of -10.5%. There are severe negative changes in the divisions of the state. The highest change is seen in the Belagavi divisions i.e. -16.4% (decreased from 33.6% in 2003-04 to 17.2% in 2017-18) followed by Kalburgi divisions i.e. -13.2% (decreased from 29.3% in 2003-04 to 16.1% in 2017-18), Bengaluru divisions i.e. -4.8% (decreased from 6.4% in 2003-04 to 1.6% in 2017-18) and the least change is seen in the Mysuru divisions i.e. -0.5% (decreased from 4.2% in 2003-04 to 3.7% in 2017-18). Jowar cultivation requires good water logging areas but because of growing urbanization, lack of good irrigation facility, conversion of agriculture lands into settlements, the cultivation is hampered which in return shows negative results.

Figure 6

The Table 6 and Figure 6 shows the Temporal Changes of Bajra cultivation in the year 2003-04 and 2017-18. The state is divided into 4 divisions - Bengaluru, Belagavi, Kalburgi and Mysuru divisions. The entire state covered a total geographical area of 304581 hectares i.e. 3.9% in 2003-04 which reduced to 217876 hectares i.e. 2.6% in 2017-18 accompanied by a total change of -1.3%. A positive change is seen in the Mysuru divisions i.e. 0.1% (increased from 0.0% in 2003-04 to 0.1% in 2017-18). There are negative changes seen in Belagavi divisions i.e. -2.0% (decreased from 3.7% in 2003-04 to 1.7% in 2017-18) and Kalburgi divisions i.e. -1.9% (decreased from 8.0% in 2003-04 to 6.1% in 2017-18). There is no such change in Bengaluru divisions i.e. 0.0%. The reason behind this negative change is lack of irrigation facility.

Figure 7

The Table 7 and Figure 7 shows the Temporal Changes of Maize cultivation in the year 2003-04 and 2017-18. The state is divided into 4 divisions - Bengaluru, Belagavi, Kalburgi and Mysuru divisions. The entire state covered a total geographical area of 649544 hectares i.e. 8.4% in 2003-04 which increased to 1304575 hectares i.e. 15.8% in 2017-18 accompanied by a total change of 7.4%. There are drastic positive changes in all the divisions. The highest change is seen in Bengaluru divisions i.e. 11.9% (increased from 18.8% in 2003-04 to 30.7% in 2017-18) followed by Mysuru divisions i.e. 11.1% (increased from 4.9% in 2003-04 to 16.0% in 2017-18), Kalburgi divisions i.e. 6.1% (increased from 3.0% in 2003-04 to 9.1% in 2017-18) and the least change is seen in Belagavi divisions i.e. 5.5% (increased from 9.9% in 2003-04 to 15.4% in 2017-18). The reason behind this increment is good water availability or good irrigation facility.

Figure 8

The Table 8 and Figure 8 shows the Temporal Changes of Wheat cultivation in the year 2003-04 and 2017-18. The state is divided into 4 divisions - Bengaluru, Belagavi, Kalburgi and Mysuru divisions. The entire state covered a total geographical area of 246855 hectares i.e. 3.2% in 2003-04 which decreased to 193242 hectares i.e. 2.3% in 2017-18 accompanied by a total change of -0.9%. There are negative changes in the divisions of the state. The highest is marked by Belagavi division i.e. -2.1% (decreased from 7.2% in 2003-04 to 5.1% in 2017-18) followed by Kalburgi divisions i.e. -0.9% (decreased from 1.8% in 2003-04 to 0.9% in 2017-18) and Bengaluru divisions i.e. -0.1% (decreased from 0.1% in 2003-04 to 0.0% in 2017-18). There is no change in Mysuru divisions i.e. 0.0%. The reason behind negative results are lack of irrigation facility or proper amount of water availability, urbanization, less rainfall etc.

Figure 9

The Table 9 and Figure 9 shows the Temporal Changes of Pulses cultivation in the year 2003-04 and 2017-18. The state is divided into 4 divisions - Bengaluru, Belagavi, Kalburgi and Mysuru divisions. The entire state covered a total geographical area of 2060601 hectares i.e. 26.6% in 2003-04 which increased to 2838650 hectares i.e. 34.4% in 2017-18 accompanied by a total change of 7.8%. There are drastic positive changes seen in the divisions. The highest change is seen in Belagavi divisions i.e. 17.5% (increased from 19.3% in 2003-04 to 36.8% in 2017-18) followed by Kalburgi divisions i.e. 2.9% (increased from 41.7% in 2003-04 to 44.6% in 2017-18) and Mysuru divisions i.e. 1.2% (increased from 23.7% in 2003-04 to 24.9% in 2017-18). A negative change is seen in Bengaluru divisions i.e. -0.2% (decreased from 15.9% in 2003-04 to 15.7% in 2017-18). The reason behind the positive change is that pulses can be grown in any land and this crop does not have any issue with water availability.

Figure 10

The Table 10 and Figure 10 shows the Temporal Changes of Sugarcane cultivation in the year 2003-04 and 2017-18. The state is divided into 4 divisions - Bengaluru, Belagavi, Kalburgi and Mysuru divisions. The entire state covered a total geographical area of 382719 hectares i.e. 4.9% in 2003-04 which increased to 531305 hectares i.e. 6.4% in 2017-18 accompanied by a total change of 1.5%. The highest positive change is seen in Belagavi divisions i.e. 4.1% (increased from 8.4% in 2003-04 to 12.5% in 2017-18) followed by Kalburgi divisions i.e. 1.1% (increased from 1.8% in 2003-04 to 2.9% in 2017-18). Negative changes are too seen and the highest is marked by Mysuru divisions’ i.e. -2.7% (decreased from 5.7% in 2003-04 to 3.0% in 2017-18) followed by Bengaluru divisions i.e. -2.3% (decreased from 2.8% in 2003-04 to 0.5% in 2017-18). The reason behind the positive result is proper amount of water availability.

Figure 11

The Table 11 and Figure 11 shows the Temporal Changes of Cotton cultivation in the year 2003-04 and 2017-18. The state is divided into 4 divisions - Bengaluru, Belagavi, Kalburgi and Mysuru divisions. The entire state covered a total geographical area of 393016 hectares i.e. 5.1% in 2003-04 which increased to 485331 hectares i.e. 5.9% in 2017-18 accompanied by a total change of 0.8%. There are positive changes seen in the divisions and the highest is marked by Kalburgi divisions i.e. 4.9% (increased from 3.6% in 2003-04 to 8.5% in 2017-18) followed by Mysuru divisions i.e. 1.3% (increased from 3.7% in 2003-04 to 5.0% in 2017-18). There are also certain negative changes observed in the divisions and the highest is marked by Belagavi divisions i.e. -2.8% (decreased from 8.6% in 2003-04 to 5.8% in 2017-18) followed by Bengaluru divisions i.e. -0.2% (decreased from 1.6% in 2003-04 to 1.4% in 2017-18). Cotton is grown in deep black clayey soil which does not require more amount of water for its growth and for this reason there is a positive increase in its cultivation.