rotation

Crop rotation and soil conservation
Rotation
"Only the potato production frequencies less that 50% proves to be economically viable."
Crop rotations can bring significant benefits at all levels. The adoption of an adequate soil management (comprehensive soil testing) and integrated pest management strategy would enhance the ability of a producer to take advantage of rotation benefits such as reduced need for fertilizers and pesticides.
By rotating the potato crop with other crops (e.g. cereals and forages) the following benefits can be realized:

Improved soil organic matter levels: Improves aggregate stability and soil structure, greater resistance to wind and water erosion, increased moisture holding capacity.

Improved soil structure :
Increased rooting depth, plants with a potentially greater nutrient and moisture supply, more vigorous crop.

Reduced soil compaction: Improved soil drainage and moisture holding capacity, less surface run-off. Intensive cropping of potatoes, requiring heavy equipment, is a major cause of soil compaction.

Improved soil fertility and weed control. Rotations with legumes such as clover can reduce the nitrogen-fertilizer requirements and increase yields.

Reduced incidence of disease, insects and fungi in potato crops Rotations can break the cycle of pests.

Improved crop quality and marketable yields. Clean tubers, tuber size, shape, etc.

ROTATON AND DISEASES

Durable production.
Potatoes produce little plant residue and subsequently contribute very small quantities of organic matter to the soil. In addition, this residue provides relatively little humus (the stable portion of the organic matter). Consequently, potatoes grown frequently deplete the soil of organic matter at a greater rate than most other crops resulting in a lower level of stable organic matter over the long-term. In order to maintain or increase the organic matter content in the soil, it is necessary to rotate potatoes with crops which produce greater amounts of plant residues that result in stable organic matter. Frequent potato production will result in such low long-term levels of stable organic matter that erosion is occurring.

Potato rotation systems including cereals and forages (potato-barley-clover) will maintain acceptable levels of stable organic matter on soils where erosion is controlled and tillage intensity is reduced.

Crop rotations combined with recommended tillage practices can play an important role in reducing wind and water erosion.

Management of crops to provide sufficient residue throughout the year is essential for satisfactory control of both wind and water erosion.

No-till or minimum till farming is highly desirable as a conservation practice, but crop rotation must be used to reduce the buildup of insect, disease and weed pests.