Science in Agriculture

1. Science in Agriculture CROP ROTATION

2. What is Crop Rotation? • Crop rotation is the practice of planting different crops in the same space in different seasons.

3. How does it work? Four-field crop rotation: A- first year of rotation: I – lupine for fodder, II – rye, III – potatoes, IV – oat; B – second year of rotation: I – rye, II – potatoes, III – oat, IV – lupine

4. How it works cont’d • Step 1: Divide the field into 4 sections. • Step 2: Plant 4 different types of plant—1 in each section. • Step 3: Rotate the crops every year. NOTE: Never plant the same type of crop in the same place 2 years in a row!

5. What to plant… • What crops should you have in your rotation? • You must have a plant called a legume in your crop rotation. This can be alternated with other types of plants. • Examples of legumes are: soy beans, alfalfa, peas, clover and peanuts.

6. Here come the legumes…

7. Why do we need legumes? • Remember that plants need nitrogen to make protein. • Soil usually contains nitrogen, but plants use it up…so • Legumes are special plants that can recycle the nitrogen into the soil!

8. This is all part of the Nitrogen Cycle!

9. Why Should We Rotate our Crops? • Rotating our crops can maintain soil fertility. • It can prevent pests from attacking the crops. • It can save money on fertilizers and pesticides. • It helps increase crop yields.

10. What are the Cons? • You can’t make as much of 1 type of crop. You may lose money. • You may have to learn new techniques. • If you have a problem with 1 crop, then it could spread to the other crops.

11. How to rotate your crops • There are 5 different types of plants you can plant. • Legumes, Alliums, Brassicas, Roots and Tuberous, and Grasses.

12. Some Hints… • Legumes include: Beans (most types), alfalfa, clover, peas. • Alliums include: Garlic, onions, leeks. • Root and Tuberous include: Beets, carrots, potatoes, parsnips, tomatoes and peppers. • Brassicas include: Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, radishes, turnips. • Grasses include: Wheat, hay, barley, oats, flax.

13. Some hints continued… • Alliums are good to rotate with roots and tubers because it ensures the soil is irrigated. • Roots and Tubers have deep roots and get nutrients from deep in the soil. • Brassicas have low roots and get nutrients from shallow in the soil. • Grasses are a good at removing pests from the soil.

14. Don’t plant your corn too early. Don’t plant corn without the beans!

15. Crop Rotation Assignment • You have just inherited a plot of land from your grandfather. He has not been able to care for the land as much as he used to and you have want to make some changes to the management of the crops. Your plot is 1km square and has been mainly used to grow hay. The land is flat and there is a stream on the north side of the field.

16. Do the following… • Do the following… • Draw a picture of your piece of land. Label the square at the top of the page. Call this YEAR 1 • Next, explain what you would plant in the field and why (on the back of this sheet). • Call the next 2 squares YEAR 2 and 3. Divide the square marked YEAR 2 into 4 sections and draw/label the crops you would plant in each section. Now rotate the crops in YEAR 3 and draw/label the crops. • Explain why you would plant each of these crops and why you rotated them in a particular way between year 2 and 3. (Use the back of the sheet).