crop rotation

noun

|Updated on: 30 May 2018

Definition of crop rotation

: the practice of growing different crops in succession on the same land chiefly to preserve the productive capacity of the soil

See crop rotation defined for kids

Recent Examples of crop rotation from the Web

In vegetable gardens and annual flower beds which are replanted from season to season, crop rotation is important.

— dan gill, NOLA.com, "How to keep insects, weeds and diseases out of your South Louisiana garden," 24 May 2018
Without organic dairy farms and their need for organic feed, Charlie Dykstra said local organic crop farmers would lose a nutrient-rich crop rotation.

— julia-grace sanders, The Seattle Times, "Area organic dairy farmers struggle with low milk prices," 8 Apr. 2018
Farms in California’s Central Valley, which produce most of the fruits and vegetables in the U.S., are heavily fertilized during multiple crop rotations throughout the year.

— deirdre lockwood, Scientific American, "California Farms Are a Silent but Sizable Source of Air Pollution," 6 Feb. 2018
Actress and director] Amy Morton refers to it as crop rotation.

— josh rottenberg, latimes.com, "Theater veterans Tracy Letts and Laurie Metcalf on sharing the screen in Greta Gerwig's 'Lady Bird'," 3 Nov. 2017
Grower Scott Park lays on 12 tons of organic mulch per acre of land and uses crop rotations of rice, beans, barley and wheat to nourish the soil and thereby produce more flavorful tomatoes.

— gabriella gershenson, WSJ, "The Cookies to Beat This Season," 12 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'crop rotation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.