By Nolan Spina and Alex Joyner Crop Rotation By Nolan Spina and Alex Joyner

What is Crop Rotation? The cultivation of different crops in a specified order on the same land 1:1:1 ratio First year plant row crops Second year plant close-growing grains Final year plant sod forming or rest crops

Why Use Crop Rotation? Crop rotation makes the soil more fertile, the legumes fix nitrogen in the soil You don’t have to use fertilizers Helps control weeds and pests by breaking their normal life cycle It reduces the risk of crop failure in case of drought or disease

Crop Rotation Benefits to The Environment Crops that draw specific nutrients from the soil are harvested prior to a crop that replaces that nutrient, such as rice to cotton and the relationship that those share. This nutrient replacement is beneficial for the environment because after all of this rotation the soil can still sustain life and won’t be overharvested. It also helps: Prevent soil depletion, reduce soil erosion, control insect populations, and prevent disease.

Crop Rotation benefit to The Farmer Farmers benefit greatly in crop yield and cost efficiency when this method is utilized. In the south during the last 10 years there has been a change of around 10 to 15 percent in the yield of soybeans and corn due to the utilization of crop rotation, a clear increase. The increase in crop yield allows for more profit to the farmer, and the method of rotation used can be less labor intensive than line cropping seasonally dependant on what crops the farmer is using.