Crop rotation improves the overall efficiency of nitrogen
uptake and utilization in the soil. If certain cover crops are
planted in the winter, erosion and runoff is prevented when the
ground thaws, and nutrients are trapped in the soil and
released to the spring crops. There are many reasons why
crop rotation is an effective way to make farmlands more
productive.
Reasons
The yield advantages of crops being rotated has been
proven by data to be much higher than that of continuous
crops.
There is evidence that conservation tillage systems which
leave much of the prior crop residues on the soil surface
are much better adapted to crop rotations than to that of
continuous crops.
Rotating crops provides greater yield advantages when
using some form of conservation tillage.
Residues from sod crops, corn, and soybeans influence
certain soil physical properties that, in turn, influence
soil drainage and aeration.
Rotating crops can reduce the potential for serious
insect and disease infestations associated with specific
residues. This is especially important if continuous
corn or soybeans is produced under conservation tillage,
since residues are left on the surface year ''round
harbor insects and disease.
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