A farmer decides he wants to grow certified organic corn and sets out to meet all USDA standards to do so. His crop grows well for the first three years; however,he notices during the fourth and fifth years that his plants are getting smaller and producing much less corn. He has not altered his farming practices and begins to wonder what is happening. He remembers someone mentioning planting peanuts every third year in place of their corn crop,which leads to much healthier corn.Why would a farmer want to change to a different crop,especially something like peanuts?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Crop rotation with a legume like peanuts will increase nitrogen in the soil. Legumes have the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen and convert it into a form that plants can use, which increases the nitrogen content in the soil. Corn is a heavy nitrogen feeder, so by rotating with a legume, the soil is replenished with nitrogen, which is necessary for plant growth. This is likely why the farmer noticed healthier corn when he rotated with peanuts.

A Farmer Decides He Wants to Grow Certified Organic Corn