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Value Of Rotation

Categories: CROP-ROTATIONS

Experience has shown the benefit of variety in

crops grown on land. Among the advantages of crop-rotation are the

following:



1. It enables the farmer to maintain the supply of organic matter

in his soil. The roots and stubble of a grain crop are insufficient

for this purpose, and the introduction of a sod or cover crop is

helpful.



2. It permits the use of leg
mes to secure cheap supplies of

nitrogen.



3. Some plants feed near the surface of the ground, and the use of

other plants which send roots deeper adds to the production.



4. Some crops leave the soil in bad physical condition, and the use

of other crops in the rotation serves as a corrective.



5. The keeping of livestock is made more feasible and profitable,

and this leads to increase in farm manures.



6. In a proper succession of crops the soil is covered with living

plants nearly all the time, and thus is prevented from washing or

leaching.



7. In addition to these influences upon soil fertility, crop-rotation

assists in control of insect and fungous foes and of weeds; it

permits such distribution of labor on the farm that the largest

total production may be secured by its employment; and it saves the

farmer from sole dependence upon a single crop.



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