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Crop Rotation
Changing the crops grown in a field, from year to year.
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How it works
Crops are changed year by year in a planned sequence. Crop rotation is a common practice on
sloping soils because of its potential for soil saving. Rotation also reduces fertilizer
needs, because alfalfa and other legumes replace some of the nitrogen corn and other grain
crops remove.
How it helps
 Pesticide costs may be reduced by naturally breaking the cycles of
weeds, insects and diseases.
Grass and legumes in a rotation protect water quality by preventing
excess nutrients or chemicals from entering water supplies.
Meadow or small grains cut soil erosion dramatically.
Crop rotations add diversity to an operation.
Planning ahead
Do you have use for other crops?
Cover crops may help in crop rotation.
Tech notes
Crops must be suited to your soils.
Design crop rotations to meet the residue needs of your crop residue
management plans.
Rotations that include small grains or meadow provide better erosion
control.
Small grains and meadow can always be used to replace any row crop
or low residue crop to gain better erosion control.
Corn (grains) can always be used to replace soybeans or any other low
residue crop in the rotation to gain better erosion control.
For crop rotations which include hay (meadow) the rotation can be
lengthened by maintaining the existing hay stand for additional years.
Avoid planting a grass after a grass if possible.
Maintenance
Switch crops to maintain perennials in the rotation, if necessary.
Consider herbicide carry over to avoid crop failures.
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