Spring crops are sown between February and May. Their name comes from their seeding date. Winter crops are planted between September and November. Plants used for spring sowing are often species like corn, sunflower and spring barley. But other crops can be sown too, particularly in systems such as SCA (Soil Conservation Agriculture) or organic systems. Objectives, advantages, and challenges.
The benefits of alternating spring- and winter-planted crops
Agronomic theory recommends alternating winter crops with spring crops to get the most out of crop rotation by selecting different botanical families. The main objective is to avoid favorable conditions for pests and weeds. These practices can make weed management easier and reduce the quantities of synthetic inputs required.
In some regions, a monoculture system can be used, particularly with corn, which is well suited to certain soil and climate conditions.
Cereals, oilseeds: what can be included in a crop rotation?
There are 3 spring crops commonly grown in different farming regions:
- Corn: This cereal crop generally has a lot of markets opportunities, for both human consumption, animal feed and ethanol.
- Sunflower: This oilseed adapts well to dry soils and even irrigated land. It is also an excellent choice to precede wheat.
- Spring barley: Spring barley is ideal for controlling grassweeds. It is very vigorous at the start and competes well with weeds.
The agronomic advantages of other spring crops: soya, sorghum, etc.
A more complex rotation makes it possible to integrate additional crop varieties into the farm. This will depend on market opportunities. On livestock operations, the crops are often used to feed the herd. Planting sorghum is an economical choice. It is planted fairly late, in May and is generally hardy. It’s ideal as an alternative to corn on fields that cannot be irrigated, and a great solution for drought periods, such as has been the case over recent years. Incorporating sorghum into your rotation does not require a huge amount of investment in specific farm machinery.
Soybeans are generally sown at the end of April or beginning of May. It can be drilled with a conventional seed drill for cereal crops and has very fewer threats from (pests and diseases). It’s often recommended to inoculate soybean seeds during the first few years of planting, especially in fields where soybeans haven’t been grown before. This helps establish a strong symbiotic relationship with Rhizobium bacteria, which fix atmospheric nitrogen in the root zone. While this symbiosis develops over time, early inoculation ensures effective nitrogen fixation from the start. Also, keep in mind that soybeans have water requirements similar to corn, so adequate soil moisture is important for optimal growth. Other crops are possible too, such as lupins, peas, flax and field beans. They are more common, however, in livestock operations or organic farming.