Author Question: List and discuss seven advantages of crop rotation. What will be an ideal ... (Read 47 times)

nevelica

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 563
List and discuss seven advantages of crop rotation.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

A plumb bob uses a bubble enclosed in glass to indicate when an object is level or plumb.
 
  Indicate whether the statement is true or false



olivia_paige29

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 334
Answer to Question 1

1 . Weed control. Switching of crops helps break weed cycles and reduces weed populations. For example, harvesting perennial crops like alfalfa for 2 or more years reduces annual weed seed production and kills some perennials like Canada thistle by depleting their root reserves.
2 . Disease and insect control. Rotations remove the hosts for diseases and insects. For example, soybean cyst nematode populations are greatly reduced by long-term diverse rotations that limit the host crops in the rotation. Perennials that provide dense, continuous ground cover can also provide habitat for birds and insects that consume harmful insects.
3 . Increase in soil fertility and soil quality. Crop rotations including nitrogen-fixing legumes such as alfalfa and soybean can add nitrogen to the soil for the growth of subsequent crops. On most soils, legume nitrogen is sufficient to supply the nitrogen requirements of a subsequent corn crop. In addition, perennial crops that do not require annual tillage result in an increase of soil organic matter and other quality factors.
4 . Reduced soil erosion. Rotations that include perennial legumes and grasses that provide year round groundcover have dramatically increased water infiltration and reduced soil erosion compared to row cropping.
5 . Rotation effects. In addition to the beneficial effects due to enhanced soil fertility and pest control, unknown rotation effects occur that increase the yield of subsequent crops.
6 . Less risk. An increased diversity of crops growing on the same farm provides the potential for multiple revenue streams, a strategy to reduce the risk should a single crop fail due to disease or other loss.
7 . Recycling of nutrients. Because of greater diversity of plant rooting characteristics, there is greater opportunity for recycling of nutrients in diverse rotations. Alfalfa and perennial grasses have been shown to be effective at reducing the nitrogen (Nitrate-N) loss from tile drainage systems.

Answer to Question 2

F



Related Topics

Need homework help now?

Ask unlimited questions for free

Ask a Question
 

Did you know?

Hip fractures are the most serious consequences of osteoporosis. The incidence of hip fractures increases with each decade among patients in their 60s to patients in their 90s for both women and men of all populations. Men and women older than 80 years of age show the highest incidence of hip fractures.

Did you know?

Fewer than 10% of babies are born on their exact due dates, 50% are born within 1 week of the due date, and 90% are born within 2 weeks of the date.

Did you know?

The first war in which wide-scale use of anesthetics occurred was the Civil War, and 80% of all wounds were in the extremities.

Did you know?

Though the United States has largely rejected the metric system, it is used for currency, as in 100 pennies = 1 dollar. Previously, the British currency system was used, with measurements such as 12 pence to the shilling, and 20 shillings to the pound.

Did you know?

Today, nearly 8 out of 10 pregnant women living with HIV (about 1.1 million), receive antiretrovirals.

For a complete list of videos, visit our video library