Lecture 4

Crop rotation
Principles
Advantages

Crop Rotation: It refers to recurrent succession of crops on the same

piece of land either in a year or over a longer period of time.
It is a process of growing different crops in succession on a piece of land
in a specific period of time, with an objective to get maximum profit
from least investment without impairing the soil fertility.
Characteristics of Crop rotation or Principles of Crop rotation:

1) It should be adaptable to the existing soil, climatic and economic

factors.

2) The sequence of cropping adopted for any specific area should be

based on proper land utilization. It should be so arranged in relation to

the fields on the farm that the yields can be maintained and soil losses

through erosion reduced to the minimum.

3) The rotation should contain a sufficient acreage of soil improving

crops to maintain and also build up the OM content of the soil.

4) In areas where legumes can be successfully grown, the rotation
should provide for a sufficient acreage of legumes to maintain the N
supply of the soil.
5) The rotation should provide grassland and pasturage for the live
stock kept on farm.
6) It should be so arranged as to help in the control of weeds, plant
disease & insect-pests.
7) It should provide for the acreage of the most profitable cash crops
adapted to the area.
8) The rotation should be arranged as to make for economy in
production & labour utilization exhaustive (potato, sugarcane)
followed by less exhaustive crops (oilseeds & pulses)
9) The crops with tap roots should be followed by those which have
fibrous root system. This helps in proper & uniform use of nutrients from
the soil & roots do not compete with each other for uptake of nutrients.
10) The selection of crops should be problem and need/demand base.
i) According to need of people of the area & family.
ii) On slop lands alternate cropping of erosion promoting and erosion
resisting crops should be adopted.
iii) Under Dryland or limited irrigation, drought tolerant crops (Jowar,
Bajra), in low lying & flood prone areas, water stagnation tolerant crops
(Paddy, Jute) should be adopted.
iv) Crops should suit to the farmer’s financial conditions, soil & climatic
conditions.
11) The crops of the same family should not be grown in succession

because they act like alternate hosts for insect pests & disease pathogens

and weeds associated with crops.

12) An ideal crop rotations is one which provide maximum employment to

the family & farm labour, the machines and equipment are efficiently used

so all the agril. operations are done timely.

 Advantages

1. There is an overall increase in the yield of crops due to maintenance

of proper physical condition of the soil and its organic matter content.

2. Inclusion of crops having different feeding zones and different

nutrient requirements help in maintaining a better balance of nutrients in

the soil.

3. Diversification of crops reduces the risk of financial loss from

unfavorable weather conditions and damage due to pests & diseases.

4. It facilitates more even distribution of labour.

5. There is regular flow of income over the year.

6. The incidence of weeds, pests and diseases is reduced and can be kept

under control.

7. Proper choice of crops in rotation helps to prevent soil erosion.

8. It supplies various needs of farmer & his cattle.

9. Agricultural operations can be done timely for all the crops because of

less competition. ‘The supervisory work also becomes easier.”.

10. Proper utilization of all the resources and inputs could be made by

adopting crop rotation.

Points to be considered for planning the crop rotation:
Farmer should consider the following factors while planning the
crop rotation

1. Net profit.
2. Growth habit & nutrient requirements of different crops.
3. Effect of one crop on the other hand that is succeeding.
4. Soil type & slope &
5. Infestation of weeds, diseases & pests.