How does crop rotation help in replenishment of the soil?

Crop rotation restores soil nutrients, breaks pest cycles, improves soil structure, and increases organic matter, which together replenish soil health.

Growing the same crop every season drains specific nutrients and builds up specific pests. Rotating crops in a planned sequence balances nutrient use, brings nitrogen back through legumes, and keeps pests and diseases in check. The result is better fertility, fewer chemicals, and stable yield.

Key mechanisms

• Nitrogen fixation: Legumes (pea, gram, soybean) host Rhizobium in root nodules that fix atmospheric nitrogen into forms plants can use, reducing need for synthetic nitrogen.
• Nutrient balancing: Deep-rooted crops (e.g., pigeon pea) bring up nutrients from deeper layers; shallow-rooted crops use topsoil nutrients, spreading demand.
• Pest and disease break: Different crops interrupt life cycles of crop-specific pests, lowering infestation without heavy pesticides.
• Weed management: Changing canopy and sowing times suppress dominant weeds.
• Soil structure and organic matter: Diverse root systems and residue returns improve aggregation, porosity, and water holding; cover crops protect against erosion.

Example rotations

Outcomes

• Reduced fertilizer bills and improved nutrient use efficiency.
• Better soil biology and more earthworms.
• Lower greenhouse gas footprint per tonne of yield.