Basic Knowledge in Agriculture #69

What is Crop Rotation?

I recall when I was involved in farming with my parents, where my mom would plant different types of crops on the same land repeatedly.

Source

Having said that, the practice of planting different types of crops in a specific sequence on the same land over several growing seasons is known as crop rotation. Farmers practice soil rotation to improve soil health and reduce diseases and pests from entering crops so production output can be increased.

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Benefits and demerits of crop rotation?

Benefits of crop rotation	Demerits of crop rotation
It improves soil fertility as different crops have varying nutrient contributions and requirements.	Knowledge in planting is required for successful crop rotation demands.
Crop rotation disrupts the life cycle of diseases and pests to certain plants eliminating their buildup.	Crop rotation may involve management efforts and additional labor to plan and implement different crops which is time-consuming.
Crop rotation prevents soil erosion	Farmers might need to invest in different crops, equipment, and fertilisers suitable for various crops.
Soil rotation reduces the need for chemical inputs through maintaining soil health naturally.	If the rotated crops that are planted havea ower market value or yield compared to monoculture farmers might experience lower income.