A Natural Farming System For Sustainable Agriculture In the Tropics Sustainable Agriculture Book - Chapter 7 Crop Rotation

Proper crop rotation is Fundamental #1. It will beat the disease and pest cycle while promoting nutrient cycling. This is a forgotten age-old method to assure the health of future crops. It is of the utmost importance to minimize nutrient loss for long-range success.

When the same plant is continually grown in the same place, then the same nutrients are required. This will exhaust certain nutrients, depending on the crop. When different crops are grown in rotation, the nutrients, such as trace elements, will not be as  quickly depleted. Deep-rooted plants will bring up more elements from deeper layers of sub-soil. When used as green fertilizer or compost they will return trace minerals and nutrients to the topsoil for future plantings of shallower feeders.