Crop rotation - Corn and mix of cereals (including legumes)

This practice abstract presents the introduction of diversified crop rotations combining maize with mixtures of cereals and legumes to improve soil health and farm sustainability.

In a non-irrigated farming system in north-eastern Spain, traditional barley rotations were replaced with seed mixtures containing oats, clovers, vetches, ryegrass and hybrid barley. The objective was to improve adaptation to drought-prone conditions while enhancing soil fertility and reducing dependency on inorganic fertilisers.

The introduction of legumes contributes to biological nitrogen fixation, improves forage quality and supports better soil conditions for subsequent maize crops. Additional expected benefits include increased soil organic matter, improved biodiversity and a lower farm carbon footprint.