Changes in Cropping Pattern of Karnataka state: A Geographical Analysis

Cropping pattern means the production of area under various crops at a point of time. It is dynamic concept because no cropping pattern can be said to be ideal for all times to a particular region. It changes in space and time with a view to meet requirements and is governed largely by the physical as well as cultural and technological factors. The change in cropping pattern in particular span of time clearly indicates the changes that have taken place in the agricultural development. These changes are brought about by socioeconomic influence. The cropping pattern explain from agriculture crops and changes are analyzed. Two sets of data (2003-2004 and 2017-2018) were taken in this study. Secondary data’s are collected and analyzed by cropping pattern.


Introduction
Agriculture is a primary activity, which is influenced by socio-physical and politicoeconomic factors.These factors affect the intensity of land use, farming system and choice of cropping.The rise in the educational level of the people with the development in education facilities attracts the people towards tertiary sector.The growing awareness among the farmers has leaded them to attend camps regarding agriculture -horticulture being held in the area as well as in other part of the state.The Northern part of the state was dry area and southern part of the state is well irrigated.The acceptance of tech-nical knowledge has changed the cropping pattern in the state.Likewise, various changes have taken place within a span of 15 years, which needs to be studied applying geographic knowledge along with emerging tools and techniques.In the present study an attempt has been made to visualize the changes in the cropping pattern will focus on many facts and understand various aspects in Karnataka state.

Objectives
The aims of the present study to investigate the change in Cropping Pattern of Karnataka.

Study Area
The Indian State of Karnataka is located 1130 ′ North and 18 30 ′ North latitudes and 74East and 7830 ′ East longitude.In the western part of the Deccan Peninsular region of India.The State is bounded by Maharashtra and Goa States in the north and northwest; by the Arabian Sea in the west; by Kerala and Tamil Nadu States in the South and by the States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in the East.Karnataka extends to about 750 km from north to south and about 400 km from east to west.It can be further divided into Four Physiographic regions-the Northern Karnataka plateau, Central Karnataka Plateau, Southern Karnataka Plateau and the Coastal Karnataka plateau.There are Chains of mountains, the highest being the Mullayanagiri (1929 m).There are varied types of soils in Karnataka.Black soils are found in northern Karnataka whereas red and red loamy soils are prominent in southern Karnataka.Laterite soils are found in main land and coastal areas of the state.The forest ecosystem of Karnataka is unique and highly diverse.Vegetation types include tropical evergreen, semi-evergreen, moist deciduous, dry deciduous, thorny scrubs, shoals and coastal mangroves.There are many rivers flowing through the state.The most famous among them are the Krishna, Cauvery, Godavari, Pennar and Palar.

Methodology
The present study based on the secondary sources data.Agriculture cropped area data have been collected form Karnataka at a Glance.The whole Karnataka state is divided into following four administrative divisions, covering all 30 districts.Cropping pattern was assessed for the selected crops include Paddy, Ragi, Jowar, Bajra, Maize, Wheat, Pulses, Sugar Cane and Cotton for the periods 2003-2004 and 2017-2018.This assessment of cropping pattern includes temporal changes of individual crop cultivation for area based on the divisional areas of the Karnataka state.

Change in Cropping Pattern
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.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    The Table 3 and Figure 3  ).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.

Jowar
The Table 5 and Figure 5

Bajra
The Table 6 and Figure 6     The Table 7 and Figure 7    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.The Table 9 and Figure 9

Cotton
The Table 11 and Figure 11    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.

Conclusion
Present paper is detail study of cropping pattern of Karnataka state.The total cropped area of the state covered 40.7% in 2003-04 which increased to 43.3% in 2017-18.As such Pulsus is the dominant crop occupying over more than 34.4% in net cultivated area followed by maize (15.8%), jowar (12.6%) and paddy (10.7%) during 2017-18.The present analysis reveals that the region as a whole has experienced over 2.7% among them increase in the maize, pulses, sugar cane and cotton, whereas all other crops shows a decreasing trod.Pulses is the major increased crops as 7.8%.Pulses are grown all over the states.
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

Fig. 9 .
Fig. 9. Temporal Changes of Pulses Cultivation 2003-2004 and 2017-2018 in Karnataka 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.
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

Table 1 .
Administrative Divisions of Karnataka State S N