example for crop rotation

Crop rotation

We visited  quite a big farm with arable land. The farmer had barley, rye and spelt in a crop rotation. Once in summer, then in winter and then they grow field crops or intercrops like sunflower, maize or legumes, which fix Nitrogen and other minerals in soil. So he uses the so called three fields economy. The first year he grows winter wheat, because it is very vulnerable to lots of factors. The second year he grows a summer cereal like oats or spelt. The third year it is better to grow maize and legumes than to leave it barren, because of the intensive treatment to the soil there will be a lot of air in it.  This way straw and spores from mushrooms are decomposed better.
There is also a common type called 4 fields economy. The first year they grow root-vegetables (potatoes) because it takes most of the minerals from the soil. The second year they grow cereals and in the third year legumes, because they give Nitrogen back to the soil. In the fourth year they use it as pasture or don’t use it. If the crop rotation is chosen well, it helps against weeds, plant deseases and animal pests.

Another farmer told us that if you grow potatoes, you have to grow at least for one year crops (like barley) and from four to five years of grassland. Otherwise you will have problems with different kinds of deseases and potatoes take a lot of Potassium out of the soil. So if you are an organic farmer and not allowed to use fertilizers, there is no other way.

The next problem to be solved is a farm where swedes are grown.  A lots of Bor and Nitrogen are needed and fungese are a big problem, so you can grow swedes about every sixth year on the same field.

Page updated 17.5.2006