Plants require various nutrients to grow on land, and most of these nutrients come from the soil. However, it is important to note that not all plants absorb all nutrients equally. Some plants obtain their nutrients from above ground, whereas others absorb them from below the ground. If the same crop is repeatedly grown in a particular field, certain levels of the soil may become deficient in nutrients, resulting in poor yield. To address this, cultivating different crops on the same land at different times is necessary. By doing so, the soil will be able to produce ample nutrients, and a good yield can be obtained without needing to use excessive fertilizer.
Crop rotation is a farming technique where different types of crops are grown together on the same land or crops are changed instead of cultivating the same crop multiple times. This method improves the soil quality by cultivating multiple crops rather than the same type of crops. After cultivating Aman paddy, you can increase the yield by cultivating a rabi crop instead of cultivating Boro again. The use of green manure in the land is noticeable because of the inclusion of rapeseed cultivation. It increases the amount of organic matter in the soil.
Shallow-rooted crops such as rice obtain their nutrients from the topsoil. When such crops are cultivated continuously, the surface soil becomes depleted of nutrients. Conversely, the nutrient content in the lower layer of the soil remains high. On the other hand, crops with deep roots such as brinjal, potato, and jute have most of their nutrient content at the surface of the soil. Cultivating such crops wastes fertilizers. Therefore, it’s better to cultivate different crops on the same land or alternate between different crops to maintain the soil’s nutrient balance.
Different crops have unique nutritional needs. For instance, leafy vegetables require more nitrogen from the soil, whereas root crops need more potassium. By changing the crops, it is possible to maintain the balance of nutrients in the soil. This approach reduces the risk of diseases and pests. Moreover, adopting this method prevents soil erosion and preserves the fertility of the land. It also helps to reduce salinity, making it possible to cultivate crops that are tolerant to high salinity, such as sesame and wheat, during the season of high salinity, which falls between the months of Agrahayan and Baishakh.
