Innovations - Crop Rotations and No-Till Farming

Crop Rotations:

Crop rotation, as stated by the Merriam Webster dictionary, is the practise of growing different crops in succession on the same land, chiefly to preserve the productive capacity of the soil. This works by planting crops in a regular sequence so that the leaching of the soil by a crop of one kind of nutrient is followed by a crop that returned that nutrient to the soil.  A typical scheme selects rotation crops from three main classifications: cultivated row crops (such as corn and potatoes), close growing grains (oats or wheat) and sod forming or resting crops, which are crops used to prevent erosion during the years in between (for example clovers). 

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When crops are planted in the same field year after year, the field's soil will become depleted of nutrients. For example,  a field of carrots will deplete from the soil 1.3 – 2% of its weight in nitrogen, 0.13 – 0.3% in phosphorous and 1 – 2% in potassium and other needed minerals.

When the crop is removed, the balance of soil nutrients is disturbed. To restore the soil’s fertility after it has been cropped for any length of time, the missing nutrients have to be replaced with either plant rotations or chemical fertilisers. Crop rotation is used on organic farms, preventing farmers from having to use conventional pesticides and chemicals on their crops.

Crop rotation was practised in Ancient Roman, African and Asian cultures. During the Middle Ages in Europe, a three-year crop rotation was practised by farmers. In the 18th century, British agriculturalist, Charles Townsend aided the European agricultural revolution by popularising a four year crop rotation. Crop rotation has been used for many years and organic farming practises are on the rise. 

No-Till Farming:
No-till farming, also known as zero tillage, direct planting or pasture cropping, is a way of growing crops each year without unsettling the soil through tillage. It is an agricultural technique where the amount of water and nutrients in the soil are increased. It also reduces erosion which offers many benefits to the farmers.

Tilling was mainly used through the earlier years of farming and was used to remove weeds, shape the soil into rows for crop plants and furrows for irrigation.

The process of no-tillage farming is a more recent innovation in the farming industry.By using this method, crop residues and other natural services are preserved on the soil's surface and sowing or fertilising is done with the least amount of soil disturbance.

For the no-tillage farming process to be successful, it needs to be acted in a different way each time, depending on the ever-changing environment. Residue, equipment, crop rotations, water, weeds, disease, pests and fertiliser management are just a few of the many aspects of farming that change when using the method of no-till farming.

No-tillage raises the amount of life in and on the soil; however it may need the use of herbicide. Yet some farmers, who prefer to use a chemical-free management practise, frequently use normal, non-dyed ridged cardboard for use on seed-beds and vegetable areas.

No-tillage farming has had a significant impact on the modern world. It can be more cost-effective as it reduces the number of employees and bigger profits can be made. It reduces fuel and machinery costs which help to reduce pollution and also the cost of irrigation. It can increase the end result and quantity, because of higher water infiltration and storage capacity and can reduce erosion.

New equipment such as seed drills can be costly but farmers can sell their ploughs to cover the expense. With no tillage farming there is a need to cover crops in order to control the growth of weeds and to increase nutrients. Rollers, crimpers and choppers can be used to cover crops so that the newly planted crops can get enough water, light and nutrients.

Please see the below video for a demonstration of Crop Rotations and No-till Farming, courtesy of SUNUP TV:

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