How to Rotate Crops

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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Crop rotation is a very important farming practice that is proven to increase yields. Farmers raise a different crop each year on the same property instead of always growing the same thing. This helps control the insect population and plant disease, while maintaining nutrient levels necessary for growing the different plants.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Step1

Section your property or garden into three main sections. Number these sections one, two and three. Choose three crops you wish to rotate (example: corn, wheat and soybeans) and number them crop one, two and three.

Step2

Plant crop one in section one, crop two in section two and crop three in section three.

Step3

Harvest your crop as usual at the end of the season.

Step4

Rotate your crops in each section the next year by planting crop three in section one, crop one in section two, and crop two in section three.

Step5

Go out and harvest the crop again at the end of this season.

Step6

Continue the rotation cycle this time planting crop two in section one, crop three in section two and crop one in section three.

Step7

Finish the cycle by collecting your harvest. Next year start over with crop one in section one, crop two in section two and crop three in section three. Follow this cycle every year.

Tips & Warnings

Always remove and dispose of diseased plants immediately to help control disease.
Some scientists recommend you only plant some plants like pumpkins once every 7 years.