Pick and Write [Agricultural Word]👉#17

My uncle is a certified teacher in Agricultural Science, he doesn't only teach Agriculture in classrooms. He practices it, you know what that means.

I love to visit him during the holidays. I noticed one thing whenever I visit: his farms in the village he stays is always the best. I asked him what the secret is to growing healthy crops yearly on same farmlands. He smiled and said: I practice "Crop rotation"

"Uncle tell me more about Crop rotation"

Let me use a practical example to make you understand how Crop rotation works:

In 2024, I planted cucumber on the Peace farm yard. 2025, I planting cassava and 2026, what did I plant? He asked. I answered, maize. He added: that's the concept whenever you heard crop rotation. Our conversation continued.

Benefits of crop rotation

pixabay

Crops has different impact on the soil. Like cucumber, it needs much nitrogen to grow fast, at the end of it, leaving the soil exhausted. Would you say is wise to plant cucumber again on the same farmland? Ofcourse not, because it will cost your crop, it won't be healthy as the previous year except it will require fertilizers or manure and serious monitoring to get a bountiful and satisfying harvest.

pixabay

The land is tire now because the cucumber I planted the previous year need much nutrients to grow. So I go for a crop that doesn't require much nutrients. That's why I now settle with planting cassava in the second planting season. With a touch of manure, my cassava plantation can survive the soil cucumber left for it. Manure helps generate nitrogen that the soil needs to grow healthy.

pixabay

Now, the soil is been relaxed by cassava plantation, as it doesn't need much nutrients to survive. Then this year, maize is the deal on the Peace farm land. Maize also requires much nitrogen to grow tall and produce fruit. So next planting season maize won't be the deal again on this plot, the soil is tire and weak. Guess what I'll plant next planting season? I answered: "Maybe legumes." He answered, you're right! Legumes add much nutrients to the soil and it helps manage weed and moisturizes the soil. At this point my peace farmland will need much of these nutrients to accommodate the farming circle of cucumber, cassava and maize crops in planting seasons to come.

My Conclusion

From what I have learned from my uncle. I now see that crop rotation is a very good and smart farming practice.
Regulating the soil with different crops helps protect the soil nutrients and provide food abundantly every harvest.

---

I place my invite to: @leorichies @areme001 and @mjeelifestyle

---