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 a farming practice, where different crops are planted in
a certain section of the farm or garden each year.
The Value of Crop Rotation:
Why rotate crop you ask? Good question. Here are three answers to your question:
Soil Depletion: Each crop uses different types and amounts of minerals
from the soil. If the same crop is planted each and every year, over time
the soil is depleted of the minerals essential for plant growth and health.
In reverse, a different crop will sometimes return missing minerals to the
soil as the plant dies and decomposes, or is turned into the soil. 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 often not as good 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, plow, or turn your garden over, some
of those insects find a very cozy home for the winter inside decaying plant
matter under your soil. Those greatful insects re-awaken in the spring hungry
to re-infest your new crop.
Disease Prevention: Just like insects, plant 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.
How to Rotate Crops:
Here comes the easy part. Crops should be rotated on a three to four year
cycle. They should be rotated every year. So a crop of corn 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 will also likely 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
plant tissue.
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