crop rotation

American  

noun

1. the system of varying successive crops in a definite order on the same ground, especially to avoid depleting the soil and to control weeds, diseases, and pests.

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crop rotation British  

noun

1. the system of growing a sequence of different crops on the same ground so as to maintain or increase its fertility

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Etymology

Origin of crop rotation

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

“Their work was always about more than crops. It was about empowerment and survival. Bloom Ranch embodies that legacy, honoring and applying practices like Carver’s crop rotation and soil health techniques.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

Corn planted in average soil with a typical corn-soybean crop rotation is projected to lose nearly $150 an acre, while soybeans planted in a normal rotation are seen losing almost $90 an acre.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

This forces growers to maintain fertility more naturally with crop rotation and other practices, which at least helps to ensure that the land isn’t in a constant monoculture year after year.

From Salon • Jul. 29, 2024

As the dairy industry has exploded through the Magic Valley, “it’s changed the crop rotation from low-water-use crops to high-water-use crops,” said Dean Stevenson, a farmer and member of the Idaho Water Resource Board.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 25, 2023

Apparently, even in this time, planters practiced some form of crop rotation.

From "Kindred" by Octavia Butler