Maintaining Soil Fertility Through Crop Rotation
Maintaining Soil Fertility Through Crop Rotation
Maintaining soil fertility can be done various ways. Proper drainage can be installed in the garden. Soil moisture is maintained at optimum levels. Each species of crops can also be planted in different plots each year. This method of planting crops in different plots each year is called crop rotation.
Each plant has a unique nutritional requirement. If this species of plant is planted in the same area every year, all the nutrients in the soil will be used up disturbing the soil balance. Hence there is a need for crop rotation. In crop rotation, the garden is divided into four plots.
Each plot will be planted with a vegetable group with plant species that have the same nutritional requirements.
The first plot may be planted with the cabbage group. Cabbage, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, turnips, lettuce all fall under this group. This group of vegetables are fast growing and they require a manure enhanced soil. These vegetables can also be grown with rank soils. Only the turnip can’t be planted in rank soils.
The second plot may contain the root vegetables such as red beets, carrots, onions and potatoes. Like the cabbage group, these crops prefer a manure soil. This type of soil allows the roots to develop slowly but steadily. Take note that this group of vegetables isn’t suitable in rank soil. Planting root vegetables in rank soil may only cause the roots to fork.
Pod-bearing vegetables may now be grown as the third plant. This group will help nourish the soil with nitrogen. This will then prepare the soil for the next group of plants that will be grown in the next planting season.
On the last plot, vine vegetables may be planted. Cucumbers, marrows, tomatoes and pumpkins may be gown on a fence or on a bed separate from the other plant groups. In the next planting season, these groups of vegetables are then rotated in each plot.
After dividing the garden into four plots, separate beds are formed within each plot. In laying out the bed, use a wheel-barrow. Make sure that each bed has the same width and is elevated to six inches from the path level.
Fertility is achieved through a variety of ways, one of which is crop rotation. In crop rotation, plant groups are rotated in the four plots within the vegetable garden. Through this planting technique, soil fertility is ensured and nutritional balance is maintained.
Source: Vegetable Garden
