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.