Crop rotation: practical information

If the same crop is grown in the same field for a long time, the yield level declines. Important causes are di-seases and nematodes, soil borne pests that need a su-sceptible host plant to survive and multiply. Since the roots of one crop always explore the same soil layers and demand the same proportion of different nutrients, the soil gets exhausted while pests such as nematodes can survive and multiply on the host plant. Although pest and disease management requires a multi-action approach, the basis for a healthy soil is a good crop ro-tation: a planned order of growing specific crops on the same field (fig. 1) in order to prevent diseases and pests, while also increasing and maintaining soil health.