ABSTRACT
The many forms of agriculture found throughout the world are the result of variations in local climate, soil, economics, social structure and history. Water balance, radiation, temperature and soil conditions are the main determinants of the physical ability of crops to grow and farming systems to exist. Mixed cropping has the highest level of intimacy and sequential cropping has the lowest. When methods of augmenting the productivity of whole cropping systems over a whole year are considered the productivity of single crops is only one factor that determines the output of a given piece of land. In multiple cropping, the total output of a given land area is more important than maximum yields of single crops. All multiple cropping systems provide better soil cover than sole crops and multiple cropping is therefore highly desirable on unstable soils. The adoption of multiple cropping in tropical countries where capital is a limiting factor has several advantages.
