The Rural Voice, 1980-05, Page 6conclusive, crop scientists can only rely on
past experience - and past experience
shows that crop rotations are the best
alternatives to increase soil fertility, reduce
fertilizer needs and prevent drastic soil
erosion and runoff.
TerryDaynard said perennial forages
like orchard grass are probably the best
crop to use in rotations, but legumes like
alfalfa and red clover have also proved
valuable additions to the crop cycle.
Winter wheat and barley are also good
ups to add to a rotation cycle, but
research has shown they don't add
nitrogen to the soil. Soybeans and white
beans are also often used in crop rotation,
but Terry Daynard said they're "worse
choices" than other crops while leaving the
land in summer fallow "is the worst
possible choice."
A rule of thumb for farmers is that
"every crop yields best if it doesn't follow
itself" said Prof. Daynard. With this
guideline, then soybeans after corn or corn
after soybeans would be better than a
continual corn crop.
Terry Daynard said the farmer also has
to take into account other principles when
planning a rotation on his own farm - for
example, what equipment he has available
and what his livestock needs are.
SHORTER THE BETTER
Another guideline crop scientists recom-
mend is "the shorter the rotation, the
better," Terry Daynard said, but added
that due to the herbicides used with corn,
most farmers would likely grow corn for at
least two years in a row before rotating.
An ideal rotation is corn and wheat, a
common cycle in European countries like
France, Italy and Hungary but due to our
climate, almost impossible here.
One practice that is becoming increas-
ingly popular here is seeding red clover
into a winter wheat stand in spring. Once
the wheat is harvested, the red clover
continues to produce a reasonable amount
of top growth and root growth. If it's
plowed down the year of seeding or the
following spring, farmers can obtain some
,,..nefit from improved soil structure and
nitrogen fertility. Red clover is preferred
for this purpose because it survives better
under wheat than alfalfa, and is cheaper to
seed.
PG. 4 THE RURAL VOICE/MAY 1980