Crop rotation involves changing crops seasonally to avoid planting the same crop in a field for two consecutive growing seasons. Tips include keeping accurate records, understanding different crops, investigating market prices, and practicing green manure. Crop rotation benefits soil health and pest control. Understanding the impact of various crops can assist in deciding which crop to plant to meet a given requirement. Green manure is a tip that can give many benefits during crop rotation.
One of the best crop rotation tips is to keep accurate records. Other crop rotation tips include understanding the different crops available to grow in a given area, making lists of desired crops, and practicing green manure whenever possible. Another important tip to consider when planning crop rotations is to investigate crop projection lists regarding market prices and demands to guide future planting.
Crop rotation is the act of changing crops seasonally to avoid planting the same crop in a field for two consecutive growing seasons. This is important at several levels, from soil erosion control to pest and insect control. One of the main reasons for practicing crop rotation is to recharge the soil with certain nutrients and minerals. Perhaps the best advice regarding crop rotation is to keep accurate records so that planting history can be examined to plan future plantings. This documentation can potentially eliminate wasted planting and track which crops grow best for a given area of land.
Understanding the different impact of various crops can assist in deciding which crop to plant to meet a given requirement. If the goal is to eliminate a particular insect or pest, the land should not be replanted with a similar crop that will serve to maintain the pest. Understanding that legumes, such as soybeans, will eliminate an insect infestation, such as the corn borer, a logical rotation might include corn to beans. This can also help replenish nitrogen into the soil without the use of chemicals. Another crop-based tip is to rotate deep-rooted plants to shallow-rooted types to naturally loosen the soil for proper drainage.
Green manure is a tip that can give many benefits during crop rotation. Just like using animal manure to put nutrients back into the soil, tilling some green plants will also help bring nutrients and minerals back into the soil. The type of plants that work best for green manure are the fast-growing green, leafy types, such as mustard greens, pigeon pea, or suntan. One tip is to plow the plants while green or slightly after flowering for best effect and benefits. The best tips for applying green manure are to broadcast the green seeds soon after the crop is harvested in the field, plow the green underneath while it is fresh, and continue with crop rotation by planting the field within two weeks of plowing under the green manure.
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