CROPS AND CROPPING SYSTEMS

Crops and cropping systems is a farming system that helps control the soil nutrients as well as yearly yield of farm produce. The effects of different crops and cropping systems make it possible to manage the organic matter content of crop land. High producing legumes and grasses have the possibility of increasing the organic matter content and improve the physical properties of soil. Such crops are often needed to offset the detrimental effect of frequent cultivation for corn or other row crops. However, management is equally as important as the crops which are grown. A well fertilize crop tend to produce more growth and return, more organic matter to the soil than one that suffers from deficiency.

The use of growth produced is also important in crops and cropping systems. Mixing crop residues into the soil adds to the soil organic matter, while the complete removal by burning or harvesting all the growth as hay or silage without returning manure is soil depleting, no matter what crop is grown on the soil.