What is it?

Crop rotation is the practice of growing and rotating a variety of crops among plots on the same field to encourage crop resistance to pests and pathogens, improve soil conditions by not depleting soil nutrients, and improving soil nutrient content by growing cover or green manure crops. Crop rotation can decrease the amount of chemical application needed during the growing season.

Conservation Benefits

• Decreases the amount of fertilizer and increases effectiveness of pest management

What does it include?

Crops are selected for a field based on appropriateness to the region and soil. A management strategy is developed based on size of the field, crop varieties, crop nutrient depletion rates, crop nitrogen fixing capabilities, appropriate cover or green manure crops, and soil testing and monitoring schedules. Effective crop rotation will provide more productive fields that require less chemical application.