CROP

ROTATION
BY: ZEYNEP A, ANGEL P, ISAIAH W. AND JAYA M
Introduction
WHAT IS CROP
ROTATION?
• the practice of growing a series of different types of
crops in the same area across a sequence of growing
seasons.
 Background Info
Origins
Crop rotation was first practiced by the early ancient civilizations, such as the Greeks and Romans.
They observed numerous benefits when rotating the crops in their fields.

How is it done?
Farmers create a rotation schedule, outlining which crops
will be planted in each section/field for each season.
Sometimes cover crops, such as legumes/grasses are used
during periods of no growth, or fallow periods. These
crops prevent soil erosion, fix nitrogen, and add organic
matter.
 Advantages of Crop Rotation
It increases soil health/fertility
• The diversity of the different crops used in the rotation contributes to the better soil health by preventing
the depletion of specific nutrients.
• Different crops provide different nutrients to the soil, so rotating them makes the soil more balanced.
• This in turn reduces erosion.

Reduces Pests and Diseases

• Using the same crops over and over will attract the
same pests, so a rotation is more likely to keep
these pests away.
 MORE ADVANTAGES
It increases crop yield
• Due to the greater soil health and decrease in pests/disease
mentioned in the previous slide, the crop yield for each season
will be greater.
• Different crops may also have different growth patterns, so there
is greater efficiency in the use of sunlight, water, and nutrients.

Greater Biodiversity
• Crop rotation increases the variety of crops. Each
crop provides different nutrients and attracts
different organisms ex. various pollinators
Disadvantages/Challenges
It Can Be Risky
Investing in a season costs a lot of money, so there
could be a burden placed on farmers if the season does
not produce as much as it should.

Increased Labor and Time Requirements

Because crop rotation means managing multiple crops in the

same field over time, crop rotation requires more labor and
time than monoculture.
Disadvantages/Challenges
Unpredictability
Certain conditions, such as weather and temperature, could destroy /interfere with the crop
rotation.
 Summary
Crop Rotation...
is the practice of growing a series of different types of crops in the same area across a sequence of growing
seasons.

The advantages are...

• better soil health and fertility which leads to less erosion
• reduced pests/diseases due to the variability of the crops
• increased biodiversity

The disadvantages are...

• more costly and time consuming than other farming methods,
• more risky if the yield is not good since the money spent on laborers and equipment may not outweigh what
was made with the crops
THANK YOU :)