Land rotation is a type of farming whereby after cultivating a piece of land for a while, a farmer leaves it to clear a new piece of land as the previous land starts to become less fertile. The farmer relocates to the new land but leaves his settlement in place.
Or, we can say that land rotation is a farming system in agriculture where a farmer grows crops on a piece of land for a while, abandons the land when its fertility is lost (exhausted), and replaces it with a new land, but returns to the old land when its fertility is regained (after the fallow period) and the land is reused.
Under contrast to shifting cultivation, the farmer does not change his settlements in this farming style.
The Middle Ages are when the practice of rotating the land first emerged.
Read also: Meaning of mixed farming
Why we employ this method
- To aid in restoring the fertility of the soil.
- Get rid of diseases and pests.
- To combat weed infestation.
Advantages of land rotation
- The fertility of the Land is restored.
- It prevents the growth of pests and diseases.
- Farmers save money by forgoing the need to relocate their settlement.
- Weeds are controlled by this system.
Disadvantages of land rotation
- It encourages erosion
- It leads to deforestation.
Read also: Meaning of monocropping
The bottom line
Rotation of the land is sometimes referred to as bush fallowing. Due to the low population and ample area, land rotation was formerly feasible. However, there is scarcely enough space to use for this type of farming because of the rise in population and human activities on the land, such as building roads, schools, hospitals, and other structures.
