Principles and Practices of Crop Rotation
Principles and Practices of Crop Rotation Introduction Crop rotations have received considerable attention for the past number of years. This attention has been concerned, in large part, with disease due to greater awareness of the problem, increased acreages of broadleaf crops, shorter rotations, reduced summerfallow, reduced tillage, and a focus on zero tillage. Recent advances in integrated weed management, and in optimizing water and nutrient use have broadened the focus to include environmental stewardship. The title of this bulletin uses the term "crop rotation" because it is the term that is familiar with most producers. It must be recognized, however, that few producers in Saskatchewan follow a crop rotation where they grow a specific crop in a specific year of the rotation cycle, on each field (e.g. spring wheat - field pea - barley - flax). Rather, they follow a crop sequence (e.g. cereal - pulse - cereal - oilseed). The reason for this is that commodity prices fluctuate and the most important factor in deciding what to grow in an upcoming year is the anticipated commodity price. Another factor, maintaining accurate herbicide use records, is critical in crop and variety selection for rotations. It must also be recognized that there is no one right rotation. There is not one rotation that will optimize water and nutrient use, minimize disease and weed problems, and most importantly, bring in the highest return per acre. The 'best' rotation depends on available moisture and nutrients, diseases and weed levels, herbicide use records, equipment availability, commodity prices, ability and desire to accept risk, and so forth. The 'best' rotation can vary from field to field on the same farm and from year to year for the same field.
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