ABSTRACT
Agroecosystems are unique cropping expanses that are well adapted to a particular geographic region. They exist as ecological entities and exhibit various ecosystematic functions and services. There are several ways of defining agroecosystems based on context, their composition and purpose. Definitions that highlight the geographic area, weather pattern, natural resources, cropping pattern and products are most common. One such definition states that an agroecosystem could be explained as an agricultural and natural resource system managed by human beings for the primary purpose of his food needs plus other useful products [1]. In certain situations, agroecosystem or cropping expanse could be located in different regions/continents and may be small or relatively larger in area. They often have common features that could be studied and analyzed collectively as an agroecosystem [2-5]. Some examples of typical agroecosystems are Wet land Rice Agroecosystem of South-east Asia, Temperate Wheat Cropping Zones of European Central plains, Dry lands of West Asia, Vertisol plains of South India that support Sorghum and Cotton expanses, Corn belt of North American Plains, Citrus Plantations of Florida and Sugar cane region of Western Gangetic Plains.
1.2 WHAT ARE THE INGREDIENTS OF AGROECOSYSTEMS
