Why use crop rotation?
At the farm management level, crop rotations are used to diversify income, spread labor requirements throughout the year, and spread the crop loss risk associated with weather and pests across two or more crops. Rotations are also used to increase crop productivity by enhancing soil quality. In terms of soil management, crop rotations are used to: • Manage weed, insect, and disease pests • Reduce soil erosion by wind and water • Maintain or increase soil organic matter • Provide biologically fixed N when legumes are used in the rotation • Manage excess nutrients The above factors all serve to increase crop yields, but there often is a yield increase to rotation above what can be accounted for by these factors. This response is called the “rotation effect” and has been documented for a variety of crops across multiple climates. The specific mechanism(s) causing this response has not been identified. Results from numerous studies in Corn Belt states indicate corn yield is about 10-15% hi
