Role of Crop Rotation Practices on Soil Health
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47672/aja.1758Keywords:
Crop, Rotation Practices, Soil HealthAbstract
Purpose: The aim of the study was to examine the role of crop rotation practices on soil health in Kenya.
Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries.
Findings: Crop rotation enhances soil health by diversifying crops, improving nutrient balance, suppressing diseases, enhancing soil structure, and aiding in weed control. This practice promotes biodiversity, supports nutrient cycling, and contributes to sustainable agriculture while offering economic advantages through increased yields and reduced input costs. Overall, crop rotation plays a vital role in maintaining and improving the long-term health of agricultural soils.
Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: Liebig's law of the minimum, Jensen's theory of crop rotation benefits and Gliessman's agroecological principles may be use to anchor future studies on examining the role of crop rotation practices on soil health in Kenya. Develop extension programs and educational materials to disseminate knowledge about the benefits of crop rotation and provide practical guidance on implementing diverse rotation systems. Governments and agricultural agencies can establish incentive programs, such as subsidies or tax incentives, to encourage farmers to adopt crop rotation practices.
Downloads
References
Adekunle, I. O., et al. (2018). Soil pH trends in southwestern Nigeria: Implications for crop production. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 13(24), 1245-1253. DOI: 10.5897/AJAR2018.13042
Adekunle, I. O., et al. (2018). Soil pH trends in southwestern Nigeria: Implications for crop production. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 13(24), 1245-1253. DOI: 10.5897/AJAR2018.13042
Adu-Gyamfi, J. J., et al. (2019). Crop rotation and nutrient management strategies influence soil nutrient availability and maize yield in smallholder farming systems. Field Crops Research, 237, 96-105.
Atiah, K., et al. (2019). Soil degradation and nutrient depletion in Ghana: Implications for sustainable agriculture. International Journal of Soil Science, 14(1), 1-13. DOI: 10.3923/ijss.2019.1.13
Bayer. (2023). Benefits and Management of Crop Rotation. Retrieved from https://www.cropscience.bayer.us/articles/bayer/benefits-management-crop-rotation
Chen, X., et al. (2020). Impact of crop rotation on soil microbial diversity: A metagenomic approach. Applied Soil Ecology, 149, 103520.
Egberongbe, H. O., et al. (2019). Soil erosion, nutrient depletion, and acidity in Nigerian farmlands: Implications for sustainable agriculture. Journal of Soil Science and Environmental Management, 10(3), 45-56. DOI: 10.5897/JSSEM2019.0753
EMBRAPA. (2020). EMBRAPA publishes new Brazilian soil fertility maps. Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation. Retrieved from https://www.embrapa.br/en/busca-de-noticias/-/noticia/51304561/embrapa-publica-novos-maps-para-fertilidade-do-solo-do-brasil
EMBRAPA. (2020). EMBRAPA publishes new Brazilian soil fertility maps. Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation. Retrieved from https://www.embrapa.br/en/busca-de-noticias/-/noticia/51304561/embrapa-publica-novos-maps-para-fertilidade-do-solo-do-brasil
FAO. (2015). State of the world's soil resources. Food and Agriculture Organization. Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/state-of-food-agriculture/en/
FAO. (2015). State of the world's soil resources. Food and Agriculture Organization. Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/state-of-food-agriculture/en/
Gliessman, S. R. (2007). Agroecology: The Ecology of Sustainable Food Systems. CRC Press.
Gomez, M. A., et al. (2020). Crop rotation and tillage effects on soil aggregation and stability in a corn-soybean rotation. Soil and Tillage Research, 199, 104583.
Jensen, O. P. (1927). Crop Rotation and Soil Productivity. United States Department of Agriculture.
Johnson, A. L., et al. (2019). Long-term effects of crop rotation on soil health in the Midwest. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 83(5), 1476-1487.
Kimetu, J. M., et al. (2018). Soil erosion and nutrient losses in smallholder farming systems of Kenya. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 13(20), 1043-1053. DOI: 10.5897/AJAR2018.13107
Kimetu, J. M., et al. (2018). Soil erosion and nutrient losses in smallholder farming systems of Kenya. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 13(20), 1043-1053. DOI: 10.5897/AJAR2018.13107
Kumar, R., et al. (2019). Decline in soil organic carbon, nutrients, and microbial biomass following deforestation and cultivation in North-Western Himalaya, India. Journal of Environmental Management, 233, 1-9. DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.11.016
Kumar, R., et al. (2019). Decline in soil organic carbon, nutrients, and microbial biomass following deforestation and cultivation in North-Western Himalaya, India. Journal of Environmental Management, 233, 1-9. DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.11.016
Li, X., et al. (2018). Crop rotation and cover cropping effects on soil organic matter and nutrient dynamics in organic farming. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 82(3), 682-691.
Lupwayi, N. Z., et al. (2018). Continuous cropping in the Canadian prairie: Impacts on soil quality. Canadian Journal of Soil Science, 98(4), 729-744. DOI: 10.1139/cjss-2018-0005
Lupwayi, N. Z., et al. (2018). Continuous cropping in the Canadian prairie: Impacts on soil quality. Canadian Journal of Soil Science, 98(4), 729-744. DOI: 10.1139/cjss-2018-0005
Mupeta, P. S., et al. (2017). Soil fertility status and erosion prevalence in Zambia: Implications for sustainable agriculture. Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, 6(1), 117-131. DOI: 10.15640/jaes.v6n1a10
Nakano, Y., et al. (2017). Temporal changes in soil nutrient concentrations in Japan. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 81(4), 931-939. DOI: 10.2136/sssaj2016.10.0316
Nakano, Y., et al. (2017). Temporal changes in soil nutrient concentrations in Japan. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 81(4), 931-939. DOI: 10.2136/sssaj2016.10.0316
NISS. (2017). Soil fertility status of Nigeria. Nigerian Institute of Soil Science. Retrieved from http://nissoilresearch.org.ng/publications/soil-fertility-status-of-nigeria/
Nyamadzawo, G., et al. (2018). Trends in soil pH and nutrient status in Zimbabwe: Implications for sustainable crop production. Journal of Soil Science and Environmental Management, 9(6), 69-77. DOI: 10.5897/JSSEM2017.0654
Nyamadzawo, G., et al. (2018). Trends in soil pH and nutrient status in Zimbabwe: Implications for sustainable crop production. Journal of Soil Science and Environmental Management, 9(6), 69-77. DOI: 10.5897/JSSEM2017.0654
Pereira, L. S., et al. (2016). Soil erosion, conservation, and sediment control in Portugal: Towards sustainable agriculture. Agricultural Water Management, 176, 39-50. DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2016.05.004
Pereira, L. S., et al. (2016). Soil erosion, conservation, and sediment control in Portugal: Towards sustainable agriculture. Agricultural Water Management, 176, 39-50. DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2016.05.004
Smith, J. L., et al. (2018). Trends in soil pH in US croplands. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 73(6), 610-619. DOI: 10.2489/jswc.73.6.610
Smith, J. L., et al. (2018). Trends in soil pH in US croplands. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 73(6), 610-619. DOI: 10.2489/jswc.73.6.610
Smith, J. L., et al. (2019). Crop rotation effects on soil health: Implications for disease and pest suppression. In C. M. Pittelkow, et al. (Eds.), Advances in Agronomy (Vol. 155, pp. 1-54). Academic Press. DOI: 10.1016/bs.agron.2018.12.001
Smith, J. L., et al. (2019). Crop rotation effects on soil health: Implications for disease and pest suppression. In C. M. Pittelkow, et al. (Eds.), Advances in Agronomy (Vol. 155, pp. 1-54). Academic Press. DOI: 10.1016/bs.agron.2018.12.001
Sun, M., et al. (2022). Effects of crop rotation on soil nematode communities as bioindicators of soil health in sustainable vegetable production. Applied Soil Ecology, 180, 104272.
Taddese, G., et al. (2017). Soil degradation and nutrient depletion in Ethiopia's highlands: A review. Agricultural Systems, 156, 1-10. DOI: 10.1016/j.agsy.2017.05.003
USDA. (2019). Soil health across the United States: Recent trends and observations. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved from https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/soils/health/?cid=nrcs142p2_053862
USDA. (2019). Soil health across the United States: Recent trends and observations. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved from https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/soils/health/?cid=nrcs142p2_053862
Van Wyk, D. B., et al. (2019). Soil erosion: A growing threat to agriculture in South Africa. South African Journal of Science, 115(9/10), 1-8. DOI: 10.17159/sajs.2019/6074
Van Wyk, D. B., et al. (2019). Soil erosion: A growing threat to agriculture in South Africa. South African Journal of Science, 115(9/10), 1-8. DOI: 10.17159/sajs.2019/6074
von Liebig, J. (1840). Organic Chemistry in its Application to Agriculture and Physiology. Taylor and Walton.
Wang, H., et al. (2021). Nematode communities as bioindicators of soil health in diversified crop rotations. Journal of Nematology, 53(3), 1-12.
Wang, Y., et al. (2023). Crop rotations influence soil organic carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions in paddy rice systems. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 335, 106842.
Wani, S. A., et al. (2019). Crop rotation: A sustainable approach to manage plant diseases and soil health. In M. M. Azooz, and P. Ahmad (Eds.), Sustainable Agriculture Reviews (Vol. 33, pp. 37-77). Springer. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-28504-8_2
Wani, S. A., et al. (2019). Crop rotation: A sustainable approach to manage plant diseases and soil health. In M. M. Azooz, and P. Ahmad (Eds.), Sustainable Agriculture Reviews (Vol. 33, pp. 37-77). Springer. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-28504-8_2
Wardle, D. A., et al. (2012). Linking vegetation change, carbon sequestration, and soil food webs. In D. U. Hooper, and M. A. Lepš (Eds.), Advances in Ecological Research (Vol. 47, pp. 1-48). Academic Press. DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-398315-2.00001-3
Xiong, X., et al. (2019). Crop rotation reduces the soilborne disease intensity and improves crop yield in vegetable cropping systems. Phytopathology, 109(5), 808-817.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 John Mwangi
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
