"Encouraging more crop rotation and intercropping is one simple measure that is good for farming and good for diets. Crop rotation means farmers plant a crop"
All plants are inflicted with certain pests or diseases that affect them and will reduce their yield or even kill them completely. That is the reason that crop rotation is so important in the vegetable garden. If you grow the same type of plant in the same location year after year you increase the likelihood that the microorganisms that cause disease will multiply in the soil each year as the plants they survive on are grown in the same spot . The same holds true for insect pest who will overwinter and increase in numbers each year. By moving the crop to a different area of the garden you are disrupting this cycle thus making it harder for the diseases and pests to get established.
Crop rotation does not only apply to the build up of pests and diseases but also to the overall health of the soil and it’s ability to provide proper nutrition to the plant you are growing. The different type crops require more of certain nutrients than others, so dependent on what you are growing the soil will become depleted on one or more of the macro nutrients. Leaf crops like lettuce, cabbage, and spinach need more nitrogen and will quickly deplete the supply if not rotated.
The legumes such as peas actually help to fix nitrogen into the soil so they should be rotated to help restore the soil instead of worry whether they will deplete the soil. Root crops such as carrots, parsnips and onions love potassium. The deep roots of carrots and parsnips do have a positive side as well they help break up the soil. The crops that deplete most of the phosphorus are the ones that flower heavily such as cucumbers and tomatoes. Again by moving these crops around you are assuring that no one area is being depleted of too much of a macro nutrient.
To use the crop rotation system is really very simple, when you plan this years vegetable garden you will want to take out last years garden plan so you can review where each type of vegetable was grown last season. If you do not have it then try and draw a rough sketch just so you will have a general idea. Now while planning this years garden try an plant leaf crops where legumes were last year. Plant flower crops where root crops were. Not only does this disrupt the pest and disease cycle it will take advantage of some of the contributions of the previous years crop.
Be sure and mix in several inches of fresh compost each spring and fall and utilize crop rotation to minimize pests and diseases.
crop rotation definition of crop rotation in the free online
crop rotation. Successive cultivation of different crops in a specified order on the same fields. Some rotations are designed for high immediate returns, with little regard for basic .
http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/crop+rotation
crop rotation definition
Growing the same crop repeatedly in the same place eventually depletes the soil of various nutrients. One way that farmers can avoid a decrease in soil fertility is to practice crop .
http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Crop_rotation
crop rotation agriculture britannica online encyclopedia
crop rotation (agriculture), the successive cultivation of different crops in a specified order on the same fields, in contrast to a one-crop system or to haphazard crop .
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/143973/crop-rotation
crop rotation copperwiki
Crop rotation refers to the planting of dissimilar crops in consecutive seasons in the same field. This is an age old organic practice in which the sequence of cropping benefits .
http://www.copperwiki.org/index.php?title=Crop_rotation
crop rotation care2 healthy green living
Get seasonal tips for garden crop rotation and find out how rotation balances nutrient demands, foils insect attacks and deters weeds in this adaptation from Shepherd Ogden’s .
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/crop-rotation.html
crop rotation
A quick guide on the benefits of crop rotation in the vegetable garden and a sample outline plan..
http://www.no-dig-vegetablegarden.com/crop-rotation.html
crop rotation
by: Ron Heiniger, Crop Science Extension Specialist, NC State University and Molly Hamilton, Extension Assistant, NC State University. The importance of crop rotation in an organic .
http://www.organicgrains.ncsu.edu/production/croprotation.htm
crop rotation
HEALTHY PLANTS START HERE Crop Rotation What is crop rotation, and why is it important? Crop rotation is an easy way to control diseases and insects at no cost..
http://resources.cas.psu.edu/ipm/POP/croprotat.pdf
crop rotation on myspace music free streaming mp3s pictures
Crop Rotation's profile on Myspace, the leading social entertainment destination powered by the passion of our fans..
http://www.myspace.com/bugogogo
crop rotation techniques ehow com
Crop Rotation Techniques. Crop rotation is a traditional method of soil preservation that pre-dates the widespread use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers. By utilizing .
http://www.ehow.com/list_7439019_crop-rotation-techniques.html