Crop Rotation

Changing the crops grown in a field, usually season by season.

How it works

Crops are changed season by season in a planned sequence. This improves soil health and provides crop benefits over the length of the rotation. Examples of this practice might entail: a broccoli - winter wheat - sweet corn rotation; a wheat - fallow - alfalfa - potato rotation; a grass seed - small grain rotation; or other combinations depending on a variety of factors.

How it helps

• Reduces fertilizer needs; alfalfa and other legumes replace nitrogen removed by wheat and other grain crops
• Reduces pesticide costs and field operations by naturally breaking the cycles of weeds, insects and diseases
• Protects water quality by preventing excess nutrients or chemicals from entering water supplies
• Reduces soil erosion by wind and water by adding crops like hay or small grains
• Increases soil organic matter
• Adds diversity to an operation
• Provides food and cover for wildlife

Planning ahead

• Do you have a need for other crops?

Technical notes

• Crops must be suited to your soils and climate.
• Design crop rotations to meet the residue needs of your crop residue management plans.
• Rotations that include small grains or hay provide better erosion control.
• Small grains and hay can always be used to replace any row crop or low residue crop to gain better erosion control.
• For crop rotations that include hay, the rotation can be lengthened by maintaining the existing hay stand for additional years.

Maintenance

• Switch crops to maintain perennials in the rotation, if necessary.
• Consider herbicide carryover to avoid crop failures.

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Last Modified:  10/26/2007