In agriculture there are various techniques to do not disturb or degrade the soil too much we are working on. If we maintain the ideal conditions of our soil, it will remain fertile and useful for longer. On the other hand, if we overexploit it, the soil will gradually degrade and erode, losing production capacity and impoverishing the land.
That is why there is the technique of crop rotation. This technique consists of alternating planting of different families that have different nutritional needs, but it is done in the same place. This is carried out in different cycles to prevent the soil from losing properties and degrading and as a plus, we can avoid diseases that affect only one type of plant. What are the benefits of this crop rotation?
Characteristics and advantages of crop rotation
Crop rotation is a technique that favors the conservation of the soil and its properties and in addition, it favors the variability of the crops. In this way, the fertilizer is better used and weeds are better controlled. By using plants with other nutritional needs and other physiological characteristics, problems with pests and diseases are reduced. The protagonists of the pests find it more difficult to survive if the crops remain exposed to them for less time.
To optimize this technique, a legume should be regularly introduced into the crop rotation and alternated with plants that require a high amount of organic matter (for example potatoes, squash or asparagus), with others that are less demanding in organic matter. (such as onions and peas).
Objective of crop rotation
The main objective of crop rotation is to maintain biodiversity and conserve soil properties. When we talk about maintaining biodiversity, we are talking about maintaining the number of species in ecosystems (even if they are agrarian), both in plant, animal and insect species. This also favors the use of the soil since the differences that the crops have in the rate of absorption of the nutrients from the substrate are used to optimize the yield.
Although most species need the same nutrients, not everyone needs it in the same proportion. That is why there will be species that are more demanding in terms of the amount of nutrients they need and others that will not be so. If we plant the same nutrient-demanding species, either in quantity or in a specific one, the soil will gradually deplete its substrate and will be overexploited to be able to supply those nutrients to the plant. However, if we change the crops for less demanding ones, we will let the soil “breathe” so that it can be rebuilt. Thus, we avoid the excessive use of fertilizerswhose use can contaminate groundwater.
What benefit can crop rotation have in our garden?
The first and most effective is the need for less fertilizer. By using less compost for the garden, we will save time, avoid efforts and above all, money, in the production of our vegetables.
We also gain in health, since the plants are better nourished and are more balanced as they have fewer deficiencies in nutrients. Plants grow stronger and produce more. In addition, naturally, they gain greater resistance to pests and diseases and this means that we do not use pesticides or herbicides. Against this, crop rotation is very effective. Suppose a pest or disease has attacked our garden. If we change the crops, it is very likely that we will end the plagueas they do not like their new surroundings. With this we achieve that for other seasons, pests do not reappear.
Finally, by contributing to the maintenance of biodiversity, we ensure that it collaborates in balance with our garden, helping us to reduce weeds. In addition, it favors the enrichment of the soil, improving humus reserves and favoring the activity of beneficial microorganisms that live in the substrate.
