VII. Agro-ecological, biological and plant physical aspects. Pages 79-101. In: Willem C. Beets. 1982. Multiple Cropping and Tropical Farming Systems. UK, Gower Publishing.

Keywords: climate and soil, seasonal rainfall regimes, intensity and effectiveness of rainfall, variability and reliability of rainfall, evaporative demand, water and cropping systems, periods of water availability, actual water usage, drought and cropping systems, light and cropping systems, leaf area and light interception, plant arrangement and light interception, cropping systems and micro-climate, shade and cropping systems, shelter and cropping systems, insect pests and plant diseases in multiple cropping, crop rotation and diseases, crop arrangement, plant density, and pests