Crop Rotation
Since ancient times, Man has farmed the land. First came the Hunter-Gatherers,
who roamed the land picking wild berries and vegetables. Somewhere along
the way, Man used his noggin, and began planting seeds in small plots near
his cave. A short while later, another brainstorm caused man to weed the
field, and provide water during droughts. Every spring, man would exit his
cave and start a new crop in his garden. Over the years, crop productivity
slowly declined. Thousands of years later, man had yet one more brainstorm....
He figured out the value of crop rotation.
Just think, you get the benefit of thousands of years of learning just by
reading this article!!!
What is Crop Rotation?
Crop Rotation is an agricultural practice, where different crops are planted
in a certain section of the farm or garden each year. This rotation, helped
the soil to replenish, and minimized insect infestation, and plant disease.
The Benefits of Crop Rotation:
Soil Depletion: Each crop uses different types of minerals in the
soil. If the same crop is planted each year, over time the soil is depleted
of minerals essential for plant growth and health. Rotating different crops,
helps return depleted minerals to the soil as the plant dies and decomposes.
By now you are wondering if today's fertilizers return these lost chemicals
and minerals. The answer is yes, but it is not free, and not as well as a
sound crop rotation program.
Insect Control: Insects overwinter in your soil. They enter the leaves
and vines of your plants. As you till or plow your garden, some of those
insects find a very cozy home for the winter inside decaying plant matter
under the soil. Those greatful insects re-awaken in the spring, hungry to
re-infest your new crop. Rotation helps to remove their food source.
Disease Prevention: Just like insects, plant specific diseases can
also overwinter in plant leaves and vines under your soil. You can help to
guard against this by removing and destroying any diseased plants. Rotation
is also effective.
How to Rotate Crops:
Here comes the easy part. Roate crops on a three to four year cycle. For
example, a corn crop planted this year, is not planted in the same field
for the next two or three years. Ideally, altogether different crops should
be used each year as insects and disease that affects one crop, can affect
similar crops.
Did you know? Purdue Agricultural Department recommends some plants,
such as pumpkins, should not be planted in the same field for up to seven
years!
Okay, so you have a home garden and only a small space. You can still rotate
your crops. In whatever space you have, rotate them in a three year cycle.
But also, be more diligent in discarding any insect infested or diseased
plants.
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