Soil nutrient and organic matter improvement and maintenance in a crop rotation system

Project Overview

FS01-134
Project Type: Farmer/Rancher
Funds awarded in 2001: $6,422.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2005
Region: Southern
State: Mississippi
Principal Investigator:

Annual Reports

Commodities

  • Agronomic: rye, wheat
  • Fruits: melons
  • Vegetables: garlic, onions, peas (culinary)

Practices

  • Crop Production: crop rotation
  • Soil Management: organic matter, soil analysis, soil quality/health

    Summary:

    The producer developed a system to improve crop rotation and fertilizer practices to better preserve organic matter and improve soil health. It was developed with long term soil health as the central consideration. This helped him develop an understanding of how his system can be managed to maintain and possibly build organic matter, minimize erosion and improve crop yields and quality. The rotation sequence has undergone several modifications since its inception but has remained a four year system with both spring and fall plantings. Thus, it can be described as a "four year, eight stage" rotation. The eight plantings (stages) rotate yearly over four farm sections utilizing vetch, winter rye, winter wheat and buckwheat.

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.