Effect of Crop Rotation on Corn and Soybean Yields

Yield of both corn and soybeans has been shown to increase when grown in a rotation as compared to continuous cropping of either of the two crops. These yield improvements are commonly associated with fewer disease, insect and weed problems; better soil tilth; and in the case of corn, a nitrogen contribution from the preceding soybean crop. One or a combination of these factors are believed to have an effect. In the past few decades the yield benefits of rotations were often overlooked as fertilizers and pesticides were used as a substitute for crop rotation. However, research has shown that regardless of all the management inputs, even beyond optimum levels of fertility and pest control, that there is still a yield advantage for rotation from some unknown factor(s) that hasn\u27t been adequately explained. This is commonly called the rotation benefit