1 Crop Rotation Crops are changed in the field from year to year according to a planned sequence rather than the same crop being grown in the same field. The crop rotation can include both annual and perennial crops which are seeded for several years. 8,630 2 Multiple Cropping Two or more crops grown in the same field within a given year. Annual and perennial plants can be organized in fields together. Another example might be planting rows of fruit trees with cereal grains or vegetables in between and windbreaks planted around the field perimeter. 8,630 3 Mixed Cropping Two or more crops are mixed together in the same field at the same time without definite row arrangement. Complimentary crops include oats and peas or mixtures of forage grasses and legumes. 8,630 4 Monocropping This is where the field is used to grow only one crop season after season. 8,630 5 Sequential Cropping This involves growing two crops in the same field, one after the other in the same year. In some places, the rainy season is long enough to grow two crops: either two main crops, or one main crop followed by a cover crop. Growing two crops may also be possible if there are two rainy seasons, or if there is enough moisture left in the soil to grow a second crop. If the crops are different, this is a crop rotation. E.g Planting maize in the long rains, then beans during the short rains. 8,630 6 Intercropping This means growing a two or more crops in the same field at the same time. E. g. Planting alternating rows of maize and beans, or growing a cover crop in between the cereal rows. 8,630 7 Strip Cropping This involves planting broad strips of several crops in the field. E.g Planting alternating strips of maize, soybean and finger millet. 8,630 8 Relay Cropping This is growing one crop, then planting another crop (usually a cover crop) in the same field before harvesting the first. This helps avoid competition between the main crop and the intercrop. It also uses the field for a longer time, since the cover crop usually continues to grow after the main crop is harvested. E.g planting maize, then sowing beans between the maize rows four weeks later. 8,630