Why does a farmers rotate crops in the field

Then in , the first field may have been planted in soybeans, and the second field may have been planted in corn. This is called a crop rotation.

But why do they do that? There are multiple reasons and multiple ways to rotate crops. The first, and likely the most prevalent reason, is nutrient uptake in plants. Compared to other crops, corn needs lots of nutrients, especially nitrogen.

This makes soybeans a good crop to alternate with corn, because soybeans have nodules on their roots that host bacteria that fix atmospheric nitrogen. Thus, soybeans require less nitrogen to be applied to the field and they deposit more nitrogen into the soil. Other legume crops, like alfalfa, offer similar benefits.

Another reason farmers rotate crops is to break fungus, disease, or insect life cycles. By changing up the type of crop grown in a specific location, you can disturb certain pests that rely on that environment. However, if this is a large concern, the field would likely require more than one year of an alternate crop.

For example, soybeans are often affected by nematodes. By rotating corn and soybean fields, farmers can minimize the nematode population that might affect their soybean yield. Planting various crops year after year can also benefit soil tilth. Different crops have different root structures, which can help aerate the soil in different ways, as well as provide different amounts of organic material to the soil. Yes, it's very important - you're right!

This is an interesting method that many people probably don't understand the importance of. Glad you do! Dinner would be pretty boring, that's for sure. It also seems like that could have serious effects on the ecosystem, especially if the crop ran into trouble. Good question! Do a little more digging and see what you come up with! Very cool, Tim!

We are so glad this was a great resource for you. Great question, vaz! The following is how you would cite the Wonder of the Day. You may use Wonderopolis as the author and since we do not list the publish date, you can use the date you accessed the article for information.

If that was today, then use today's date for your citation. Great question, Vazul! We didn't create the video, so we couldn't find an explanation. We're glad you learned something new from this Wonder of the Day!

Good luck with your mini-farm!! We really enjoyed your comment, Audrey! We bet it's a lot of fun to pick berries with your family - what a tasty activity to do together! Thanks for hanging out with us in Wonderopolis!

Thank you for asking, Aiden! We have a hard time picking just one, but there is one that's very near to our hearts - our very first Wonder!

Have you read it? That's a great question, Max! Depending on the region you live in, there may be crops that can grow in the winter. Some examples include onions, garlic, cauliflower, broccoli and some lettuces.

Have you ever grown a vegetable? It's fun to watch them develop over time! We love potatoes, Bernard! We love all sorts of crops, Brennen! Some favorites are corn, beans, squash, and pumpkins! Speaking of pumpkins, we can't wait to carve a Jack-O'-Lantern soon! Have you ever helped carve one? We are undergoing some spring clearing site maintenance and need to temporarily disable the commenting feature.

Thanks for your patience. Drag a word to its definition. You have answered 0 of 3 questions correctly and your score is:. Want to add a little wonder to your website? Help spread the wonder of families learning together. We sent you SMS, for complete subscription please reply. Follow Twitter Instagram Facebook. Why is crop rotation important? What purposes does crop rotation serve? When was crop rotation invented?

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Try It Out We hope you enjoyed learning more about the science of farming today! Grow something! With the help of an adult friend or family member, pick a spot in your backyard or even on your kitchen windowsill to grow something.

There's no better way to learn more about the science of growing things than by actually doing it. If you have a large backyard, you might want to plant a tree or a few vegetables. If you would prefer to grow something indoors, you can create a homemade herb garden with a few small containers on your kitchen windowsill! Have fun watching your creations grow! Take a field trip to a local farm! With the help of an adult friend or family member, ask a local farmer for a tour of his land.

Where does he grow which crops? Does he rotate crops? If so, how often? What crop rotation schedule does he use? What experience does he have — good and bad — with crop rotation? The lower end pierces through the soil, spreading the seeds. Sowing can also be done by simply spreading them throughout the field by hand. Some saplings are planted directly in the field manually. Weeding is the removal of weeds which are the undesired plants that grow along with a crop.

Weeds affect the growth of plants by competing with them for water, nutrients, space and light. Some pose prblem in harvesting and are harmful to humans and animals. Methods like tilling help in uprooting and killing of these weeds.

Uprooting can be done manually as well as with the help of a seed drill. Weedicides or chemicals that kill these weeds are sprayed on the crops carefully to get rid of weeds. Chapter Chosen Crop Production and Management. Book Chosen Science. Subject Chosen Science. Book Store Download books and chapters from book store.

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