If a farmer plants corn on even years and soybeans on odd years, what conservation practice is he using?

• A. Crop Rotation
• B. Terrace Farming
• C. No-Till Farming
• D. Contour Farming

Answer: (A)

Crop rotation is the practice of growing different crops in a planned sequence on the same field over multiple years. Planting corn in even years and soybeans in odd years demonstrates rotating two crops rather than growing the same one continuously, which helps balance soil nutrients and disrupt pest and disease cycles that can build up when a single crop is grown repeatedly. Soybeans are a legume that can contribute nitrogen to the soil, benefiting the following crop, while corn and soybeans have different nutrient demands and pest pressures. This approach protects soil fertility and supports conservation goals. The other methods—terrace farming to reduce runoff on slopes, no-till farming which focuses on minimizing soil disturbance, and contour farming which follows the land’s contours to slow water flow—do not describe alternating crops over years, so crop rotation is the best fit.