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Principles and Types of Crop Rotation

The document discusses sustainable cropping systems and crop rotation. It describes how crop rotation has been used historically and some of the benefits it provides, such as improved soil quality, yields, and pest management. Effective crop rotation involves considering factors like plant type, residue levels, and avoiding similar crop families in sequence. While crop rotation has environmental and agricultural benefits, some barriers to adoption include economic and equipment constraints.

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Umer Nawaz
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60 views17 pages

Principles and Types of Crop Rotation

The document discusses sustainable cropping systems and crop rotation. It describes how crop rotation has been used historically and some of the benefits it provides, such as improved soil quality, yields, and pest management. Effective crop rotation involves considering factors like plant type, residue levels, and avoiding similar crop families in sequence. While crop rotation has environmental and agricultural benefits, some barriers to adoption include economic and equipment constraints.

Uploaded by

Umer Nawaz
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

CROP ROTATION

CROP ROTATIONS & COVER CROPS : KEYS TO


SUSTAINABLE CROPPING SYSTEMS
SUSTAINABLE CROPPING SYSTEMS
 Conservation Crop Rotation

 Supporting Practices and Management Activities

• Cover Crops

• Residue Management

• Nutrient Management

• Pest Management

• Controlled Traffic

• Precision Agriculture
HISTORICAL USE OF CROP ROTATION

 Ancient Roman, African, and Asian Cultures

 Middle Ages in Europe

 Rotations on Thomas Jefferson’s farm

 George Washington Carver brought his science of

crop rotation to Southern farms.


SUSTAINABLE CONSERVATION
CROP ROTATIONS

 Insure Long-term Productivity

 Treat Natural Resource Concerns within the Field (at

the source).

 Provide for Continued Profitability.

 Maximize Benefits through Inclusion of Management

and Supporting Practices.


OPTIONS FOR CROPS/COVERS IN
CROP ROTATION

 Plant type: Grasses, Legumes, other Broadleaf Crops

 Single Crop Annually –Multiple Crops Annually

 High Residue vs. Low Residue

 Perennials

 Cover Crops

 Fallow

 Living Mulches, e.g. in orchards and with other


perennial crops.
POTENTIAL BENEFITS THROUGH
SUSTAINABLE CROP ROTATION
 Improved Yields and Crop Quality

 Enhanced Erosion Protection

 Reduced Runoff and Pollutants in Runoff

 Increased Soil Organic Matter

 Increased Biological Activity in the Soil

 Improved Efficiency of Nutrient Cycling and Utilization

 Reduced Soil Compaction and Improved Soil Condition


POTENTIAL BENEFITS THROUGH
SUSTAINABLE CROP ROTATION
 Increased diversity and wildlife habitat

 Fixation of nitrogen for subsequent crops

 Minimized potential of pesticide resistant strains


among pest populations
 Aid in control of crop pests

 Can facilitate development and implementation of a


compatible nutrient management plan
 Improved water use efficiency
BARRIERS TO ADOPTING/CHANGING
CROP ROTATION

 Income potential and markets

 Equipment & storage needs for additional crops produced

 Need for livestock to utilize forages produced

 Rental arrangements and/or land availability

 Pesticide, particularly herbicide, carry - over


BARRIERS TO ADOPTING/CHANGING
CROP ROTATION

 Increased requirement in management skills & information

 Crops that are pest hosts or have allelopathic effects

 Suitability of soils for production of alternative crops

 Suitability of climate for production of alternative crops


IMPACTS OF SUSTAINABLE
CROP ROTATIONS ON SOIL QUALITY
 High residue crops and perennials (sod) increase SOM.

 High residue crops and perennials (sod) reduce soil


erosion.
 Diversity in crop rotations increases biological activity
in the soil and diversity of soil biota.
 Many perennial species and some annuals have deep
extensive root systems that reduce soil compaction
and improve soil condition.
IMPACTS OF SUSTAINABLE
CROP ROTATIONS ON WATER QUALITY

 High residue crops and perennials reduce the amount of

sediment and other particulate matter leaving a field.

 Live vegetation captures and cycles excessive nitrates

and other nutrients in the soil.

 Crop residues and perennial vegetation help reduce and

filter runoff.
PRINCIPLES OF CROP ROTATION

 Crops of the same natural order (family) should not

follow each other.

 Crops of the same root system (deep or shallow)

should not follow each other.

 Leguminous crops should be included in the rotation

at least every three to four years.


PRINCIPLES OF CROP ROTATION

 Green manuring and forage crops should be given a

place in the rotation at regular intervals.

 Crops like potato, sugarcane and seasonal vegetables

which require more thorough cultivation than others

should be included in the rotation, as their cultivation

makes a very good preparation for the following crop.


PRINCIPLES OF CROP ROTATION

 Alternating crops susceptible to certain diseases with

those that are resistant helps control pests and

diseases.

 Alternate hosts of the pests and diseases should be

avoided in the rotation.


TYPES OF CROP ROTATION

 Fixed rotation

 Flexible rotation
TYPES OF CROP ROTATION

Two year rotation

Wheat
Maize Rice

Cotton
Senji Maize

Fallow
Cotton

Wheat

150 % 150 % 100 %


TYPES OF CROP ROTATION
Three year rotation

Wheat Guara (GM) Wheat KH. Fodder

Toria Wheat Fallow Gram

Cotton Toria Cotton Cotton

Cotton Senji

Wheat

100 % 133 % 66 % 166 %

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