CHAPTER XI. 

 Rotation of Crops. 



The rotation of crops is one of the most important problems 

 of farm management. It is the science of growing crops in their 

 proper order. There are certain crops that are peculiarly adapted 

 to the preparation of the soil conditions for succeeding crops ; for 

 instance a corn or potato crop that has to be cultivated and kept 

 free from weeds will leave the soil in good condition for seeding 

 to hay or cereal crops. A legume will prepare available nitrogen 

 for nonleguminous crops. 



The fundamental principles and advantages of crop rotation 

 may be briefly stated as follows : 



1. Soil renovation, and change of soil structure. 



2. Equitable distribution of work. 



3. More uniform utilization of plant nutrients. 



4. Inoculation of soil with nitrogen producing bacteria. 



5. Checking plant diseases. 



6. Checking growth of weeds. 



7. Destruction of insect pests. 



8. Destruction of toxic substances. 



9. Preservation of plant food in the soil. 



10. Facilitating decomposition of organic matter. 



11. Supplying the various needs for home consumption. 



12. Diversification, preventing total failure in crops. 



13. Distribution of income. 



14. Giving variety and interest in agriculture. 



Generally speaking it is a poor system of cropping where the 

 same crop is grown on a field more than two or three years in 

 succession, for some of the following reasons: 



1. Different plants feed at different depths. 



2. There is difference in feeding capacity of different plants. 



3. Some crops are useful in restoring fertility. 



4. Some crops remove fertility and add nothing to the soil. 



5. Cover crops serve to preserve fertility. 



6. Pasturing maintains fertility. 



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