Modern Agriculture is driven by the need to manage natural resources
that are being continually exhausted by the increasing world population and its
demand on food, fuel and fibre. New innovations and evolving farming practices
are helping farmers become more efficient in their farms
Modern Agriculture is driven by the need to manage natural resources
that are being continually exhausted by the increasing world population and its
demand on food, fuel and fibre. New innovations and evolving farming practices
are helping farmers become more efficient in their farms, and reducing their
own economic outputs with the amount of natural resources they input while
continuously improving. Crop rotation is an old farming technique which is
still being used today however, with some slight alterations due to more
research being available on types of crops and their uses. Crop rotation first
came into farming techniques for the main use of soil fertility, because before
pre-bagged fertiliser existed keeping the yields high by using methods of
maintaining soil fertility were essential to keep farms running. (McConnell and
Soffe, 2003) Now it is used in an effort to help out the planet due to the
common and extensive use of these fertilisers.
Sustainable Agricultural Systems
Sustainable agriculture involves using farming techniques
that protect the environment, public health, human communities and animal
welfare while producing food, fibre and other plant or animal products. (GRACE
Communications Foundations, 2017) This is made easier with modern techniques
such as the increasing use of technology in farming. Being able to more
accurately forecast the weather through powerful algorithms being easily
accessible on mobile phones and the internet make knowing when and when not to
water a field much easier and more reliable. There is also the use of GPS on
the farm to know exactly where all crops are planted on larger farms, and can
be programmed into several tractors along with other vital information to
ensure the smooth running of a working farm. (Unknown, 2017) Programmes such as
ASSIST are run to help boost sustainable agriculture. The ASSIST programme aims
to develop and assess the effectiveness, impacts and robustness of novel mid
and far horizon agricultural systems and technologies to advance understanding
of Sustainable Intensification. Their research goals to help with sustainable
Identifying current and future biophysical
limitations on crop productivity in arable and grassland farming systems
Predicting the impacts of changes in
agricultural management on the wider environment
Understanding and enhancing the ecological
processes underpinning food production
Developing innovative farming systems which
minimise inputs while maximising yield, and build resilience to future
Providing tools and data for planning future
multi-functional land use that optimises benefits to food production whilst
minimising trade-offs and conflicts with other ecosystem services. (Pywell,
Crop Rotation is an old farming practice that has been used for many
years, however there is always new research going on to find out if there are new
and better rotations and cycles to be used on the ever modernising agricultural
The main objective of crop rotation is to contribute to the
achievement of a production that is profitable and sustainable, maintaining
soil fertility and health. (Florentin, 2011) It is the alternation of different crops on
the same field/area of land over a succession of usually around 4 years. The rotation is established before the
sequence begins and will most likely include a legume type crop to provide N to
the rotation. (LÆGREID, 1999) This encourages biodiversity within the farm
system among other advantages. Rotations have to work practically so that they
work smoothly from year to year, such as changing from crop to crop. This
usually goes from a summer crop to a winter crop, however the soil must be
ready for the next one without too much of a delay between the ground being
ready and the crops being planted. Otherwise there may be leaching problems and
the field may be lost for that particular crop. (McConnell and Soffe, 2003)
Sequencing of crops in the rotation of the specific area of land
will affect the availability and use of water, so therefore in turn affecting
crop yields. (DEFRA, 2017) Not to be confused with the different practice of
Crop Sequencing, this is different to crop rotation as the sequence of crops
rotated will not necessarily be followed year after year, whereas crop rotation
is set and will not change for years at a time. (FAO.org, Unknown, 2017)
However there are certain ways to get around this 2fixed2 system if it works
better and/or is necessary for the farmers’ needs and also the needs of the
soil, such as this series of set rotations:
(Watson, Stoddard, Murphy-Bokern, 2017)
Possible rotations have to include one of the following each
year due to certain nutritional requirements from the soil to maintain the
rotation sequence. These can include cereals, potatoes and root crops, pulse
crops e.g peas and beans, oilseeds and restorative crops.
Cereal Crop – Winter
Wheat is usually grown as a cash crop, however it can provide most of the cover
crop benefits that other cereal crops can. It is also much easier to manage
with better weed handling properties than rye or barley, also being easier kill,
and makes an excellent double crop. There is however no rush to kill wheat in
early spring as it is slower to mature than some other cereals therefore this
will also save the soil being compacted in wet weather. Depending on if it is grown
as a cover crop or for the grain, winter wheat adds rotation options for
underseeding a legume for forage or nitrogen. It is being increasingly used
because of how much cheaper it is than other crops. (Unknown, 2017)
Grass – This is very useful for farms where there are also animals kept,
such as dairy farms