Crop rotation is a method of farming where you can cultivate different types of crops in the same farmland in a sequential order.
For over 20-century people that are into farming have been practicing it up till date. It has been proven as one of the best and easiest methods to boost soil quality.
Crop rotation has a protracted history in China. Early in the Warring States Period, there was a proposal for a simple crop rotation model and the rotation of legumes and cereal crops which became very beneficial for grain yield.
China’s green development system is highly consistent with the practice of crop rotation.
There are a lot of advantages of crop rotation but in this article, we are listed just 10 of them that will interest you. Just read to the end!
Table of Contents
Advantages of Crop Rotation
Here are the advantages of crop rotation
- Boost soil quality
- Healthier soil structure
- Crop rotation solves the problem of weeds in agriculture
- Constant supply of food to the local population
- Sustainable farming practice
- The quantity of water that will be wasted will be reduced
- It does not require many fertilizers
- Decreases the risk of landslides and soil erosion
- Excess crop yields in the long run
- Pests Control
1. Boost soil quality
One of the advantages of crop rotation is that it boosts soil quality greatly. When a single crop is planted repeatedly for several years, it makes the soil suffer as some organic components are extricated from the soil.
This makes the soil end up losing good nutrients in the long run, the soil may become infertile and not fit for farming again.
Crop rotation is a different case as it involves the cultivation of different types of crops on the same land in a sequential order
the soil will be recovered in an instant if a farmer plants different type of crops that contains different mineral in the farmland.
The mineral and other components that are in the soil will recover when different crops are cultivated. This maintains soil fertility over a long period of time.
2. Healthier soil structure
Crop rotation enhances the structure of the soil not just the soil’s general quality due to the physical features of the crop’s variation which end up affecting the soil in diverse ways.
The root of some of these plants tends to be very long and it decompresses the crop and boosts the soil structure.
As the plants are different that is how different microbes in the soil benefit from them which aids in improving soil structure. This is one of the best advantages of crop rotation.
3. Crop rotation solves the problem of weeds in agriculture
In farming weeds is a very serious problem that farmers face due to the fact that these weeds take part in the minerals and rare components of the crops planted on the farm which can reduce crop production.
For farm crops to supply this good mineral and nutrient then it is very essential to minimize the weeds in the farmland.
Weeds that are growing at the same time as the farm crops can be reduced or controlled via crop rotation.
Weed can naturally be reduced in crop rotation as it involves different crops and they have different ways they grow. It will be very difficult for weeds to grow together with different crops.
The weed problem will be drastically reduced when different crops are planted more than a year unlike when it is just a single crop.
4. Constant supply of food to the local population
This is one of the advantages of crop rotation we can’t leave out. In most parts of the world, people depend on farm produce for the supply of food mainly in an average part of the world.
A large number of people will experience hardship due to a lack of food if for any reason the produces is ruined
However, it is very vital to reduce the risks associated with farming. Crop rotation is a suitable solution for these areas compared to monoculture.
5. Sustainable farming practice
Crop rotation is considered to be one of the most sustainable farming practices. Cultivating a single crop throughout the year can cause soil degradation.
Nevertheless, the soil will be recovered in the long run via crop rotation as it involves the planting of different crops.
Hence, Crop rotation should not be neglected by farmers, as it is very essential to practice crop rotation to make the soil will remain suitable for farming for a long period.
6. The quantity of water that will be wasted will be reduced
Crop rotation helps to boost the soil structure which makes it possible for it to reserve a large quantity of water and the quantity of water that will be wasted will reduce.
This is very vital mainly in regions that are dry and hot at the same time, where is a scarcity of water. In this region, they use water efficiently so as to have a high quantity of farm produce.
In years to come due to global warming the scarcity of water will become very high with this it is very necessary for soil to reserve a lot of water and the most effective way to achieve this is via crop rotation.
7. It does not require many fertilizers
In crop rotation nutrients is been preserved in the soil which boosts the soil fertility with this, it will only fewer fertilizers.
Though fertilizer increases crop yield and can also pollute the soil which might end up contaminating the crop yields. Also, the continuous use of fertilizers can the land incompatible with farming.
It is advisable for farmers not to use much quantity of fertilizer on the soil instead they should engage in crop rotation as it doesn’t require much fertilizer.
8. Decreases the risk of landslides and soil erosion
One of the advantages of crop rotation is that it decreases landslides and prevents soil erosion in places where the soil is not firm and their landslides are yearly which has led to destroying several buildings.
If different crops are planted throughout the year, the roots of these plants will stick together which will help prevent soil erosion and landslides will be reduced in order to protect the lives and property of many people across the globe.
9. Excess crop yields in the long run
In crop rotation, there is a possibility for the crop yield to be in excess for a long period of time due to the mineral supply and nutrients in the soil.
It is very necessary to increase the nutrient and minerals that are in the soil for the yield to increase.
with crop rotation, you are sure of a compatible mineral mix over a period of time, and farm produce will also be increased because of its long-term standpoint.
That is why most people prefer to practice crop rotation instead of monoculture, which decreases crop yield within a period of time because it lacks some vital minerals and nutrients.
10. Pests Control
One of the advantages of crop rotation is pest control. In crop rotation pests cannot spread easily as the practice involves the planting of different types of crops.
It becomes impossible to lose a huge quantity of crop yield due to the different characteristics of the different crops and if these crops will be a defense against pests.
But if it is just a single crop that is cultivated within a year, there is a high possibility of pests spreading in the whole farmland, and you might end up not making a profit.
Conclusion
There is no argument that crop rotation happens to be the major principle of agriculture conservation because it boosts soil structure and fertility. It also helps control weeds, pests, and diseases.
What is the advantages of crop rotation?
The advantages of crop rotation are as follows
- Boost soil quality
- Healthier soil structure
- Crop rotation solves the problem of weeds in agriculture
- Constant supply of food to the local population
- sustainable farming practice
- The quantity of water that will be wasted will be reduced
- It does not require many fertilizers
- Decreases the risk of landslides and soil erosion
- Excess crop yields in the long run
- Pests Control
What is crop rotation?
Crop Rotation is the practice of cultivating a series of different types of crops on the same farmland in a sequential order is known as
What are the principles of crop rotation?
- Crops whose roots are deep roots, like carrots, should be followed by crops that are shallow rooted such as wheat, corn, and rice. for invariable and efficient use of nutrients from the soil.
- Leguminous crops such as pulses and alfalfa should be planted after non-leguminous or cereal crops, like rice and oats. Legumes enhance organic and atmospheric nitrogen content in the soil.
- Indepths crops such as sunflower should be followed by rejuvenating crops such as legumes and pulses
- Don’t cultivate crops of the same family in sequence as they serve as substitutes to host pests and diseases.
- Short-duration crops should succeed over Long-duration crops.
- Crops vulnerable to soil-borne pathogens and parasitic weeds should be planted after tolerant crops.
- crops requiring less water and labor should be planted before crops that involve intensive labor and heavy irrigation.
Recommendations
- 10 Advantages of Afforestation
. - 10 Pros and Cons of Organic Farming
. - 9 Disadvantages of Monoculture
. - 10 Disadvantages of Mixed Farming
. - 22 Advantages and Disadvantages of Biofuels