Crop rotation

Farm Questions
1

Dear Sir/Madam,
I am a farmer from District Jhansi. I want to know:

  1. What is crop rotaion?
  2. What are the benefits of crop rotaion?
  3. I always adopt the rotation- Rice-Wheat-Rice-Wheat-Rice-What. Whether it is a good crop rotation or otherwise it is harmful to my fields? But if it is not a good rotaion, would you please advice the beneficial crop rotation for my fields.
    With regards
    Yours sincerely,
    Hasnain
    Baragaon,
    Jhansi
2

Crop rotation is one of the oldest and most effective cultural control strategies.
It means the planned order of specific crops planted on the same field.
It also means that the succeeding crop belongs to a different family than the previous one.
The planned rotation may vary from 2 or 3 year or longer period.

Some insect pests and disease-causing organisms are hosts’ specific.

For example, rice stem borer feeds mostly on rice.
If you don’t rotate rice with other crops belonging to a different family, the problem continues as food is always available to the pest.
However, if you plant legume as the next crop, then corn, then beans, then bulbs, the insect pest will likely die due to absence of food.

Advantages of crop rotation

Prevents soil depletion
Maintains soil fertility
Reduces soil erosion
Controls insect/mite pests.
Reduces reliance on synthetic chemicals
Reduces the pests’ build-up
Prevents diseases
Helps control weeds