Despite all the advantages of expanded crop rotations, we still see many examples of crop rotations in which only 2-3-4 crops are grown.
These are the cases when the market, product prices, demand, sales opportunities for certain crops, and even… the technical equipment of the farm dictate the rules.
In fairness, I would like to note that in countries where farmers have many years of experience in no-till farming (Argentina, the United States, etc.), I have often seen such “narrow” crop rotations of 2-3 crops.
What to do in such cases?
How to find a balance between agronomic tasks and economic realities?
I think that in such a situation, the way to balance is to include cover crops in the crop rotation. These are the crops that are sown in the field in the interval between growing cash crops in order to improve the soil condition.
Cover crops are capable of many things:• increase the content of organic matter in the soil;
• increase the number and activity of beneficial soil organisms;
• accumulate plant residues on the soil surface;
• loosen and improve soil structure;
• improve air and water regimes;
• increase the moisture retention capacity of the soil;
• add nitrogen through biological fixation (legumes);
• inhibit the development of weeds;
• protect the soil from erosion (water and wind) and overheating;
• promote circulation of nutrients in the soil;
• snow and water retention;
• help reduce problems with pests and diseases.
As you can see, the list of possibilities for cover crops is considerable. Each of these possibilities is a good reason to include them in any crop rotation. And in the case of a “narrow” crop rotation, it is simply a necessity._
I think this is one of the reasons why cover crops are so popular with American growers. After all, it is cover crops that allow you to add the diversity that is so lacking in their crop rotations with small sets of crops.
This is from my book “No-till for Beginners” – if you haven’t read it, you can order it here.
And now, during the harvest, is the best time to think about the future:
Take the first step towards growing cover crops!