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Synopsis Land and soil are non-renewable natural resources. The nature has taken thousands of years to create an inch of fertile soil. Mismanagement of this precious resource is a sin against nature and will play havoc with the fortunes of the country. Many parts of the country have already come to the brink of devastation through injudicious usages, over exploitation of natural resources resulting in unsustainable productivity of crops. Modern concept of cropping system is based on the principle of effective utilization of soil water, nutrients and light for sustainable crop productivity. This book gives the basic principles and broadly accepted definitions terms frequently used in the literature. A short-review of the cropping systems work done in the tropics, particularly in India is presented. In this revised edition, contents of all the chapters have been revised to give orientation towards management of sustainable crop production systems. A new chapter on farming system is also added in tune with the latest trends. Information available on perennial crop-based cropping systems, for example "High Density Multispecies Cropping Systems" involving coconut and arecanut is updated. The various management aspects of sustainable cropping systems are discussed and the research methodology that could be adopted is elucidated. Possible future lines of work are given in the final chapter. This book will prove to be of immense value not only to the research workers but also to the teachers and students and above all farmers and individuals who are desirous of improving sustainable crop production systems.