Lecture 3- Crop Rotation Flashcards
Why are rotations important?
So that soil stays fertile and healthy
What are their purpose?
4 answers
Spread out work load of machinery and labour
Interrupt weeds, pest and disease cycles
Aids cash flow
Improves soil structure
What are break crops?
Secondary crop grown to interrupt the repeated sowing of cereal crops
What crops fall under the POACEAE plant family?
Cereal crops and herbage grasses
What crop falls under the FABACEAE plant family?
Legumes
What crop falls under the SOLANACEAE plant family?
Potatoes
What does continuous cropping of cereals lead to?
Take-all, eyespot and nematodes
What does continuous cropping of root crops lead to?
Eelworm problems
What are examples of pulse crops?
Peas and beans
What are pulse crops functions?
How does it do that?
Natural restoration of nitrogen
Via bacteria fixation in root nodules
What three types of crops should not be grown 5years consecutively in the same field?
Oilseed rape
Pulses
Sugar beet
What are restorative crops?
How do they do this?
What are examples of this?
Crops that restore and maintain fertility in soils
Allow return of organic matter and nutrients to the soil
Grass leys, kale
How many hectares in the uk are used for arable land?
4.5 million
How many hectares in the uk are used for grasslands?
11.5 million hectares
What is a break crop?
A different species of crop to the main crop
What’s an example of break crop?
Legumes
Oilseed rape
Why are break crops important even for just a year.
Decreases susceptibility of diseases within the soil
What do rotations not deter?
Diseases spread by airborne spores and pests which spread to field to field
What disease is hindered by rotations?
Take all
What pests are hindered by rotations?
Nematodes
What disease does rotating winter and spring crops deter?
Black grass
What does a successful crop rotation do?
Maintains economic efficiency
AVoids nutrient leaching
Ensure pesticides hit their targets
What is Harper Adams crop rotation?
Winter wheat Winter barley Oilseed rape Maize Potatoes Wheat
What are organic rotations?
No use of chemical control
Longer breaks between same family
Increased risk of pests and diseases