Our Unique Offering
As an arable business Harrowden is one of the few UK turf growers that also grows wheat, sugar beet and potatoes. So this means we can adopt crop roTatION WITH ALL THAT IT MEANS FOR PEST CONTROL, SOIL FERTILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY.
Unlike almost every other turf grower in the UK, we are a bona fide arable farming business. Whilst turf is our core product we also produce sugar beet, wheat, herbs and potatoes. Importantly, in the world of turf cultivation this gives us a unique advantage as we can adopt an effective crop rotation plan.
Crop rotation is a fundamental agricultural practice that involves changing the crops grown on a piece of land over successive seasons. So for a turf-growing farm that also cultivates potatoes, sugar beet, and wheat, implementing an effective crop rotation system provides numerous advantages. These benefits not only include improved pest control and enhanced soil sustainability but also increased fertility. Ultimately, by integrating crop rotation into farm management practices, we can maximise yields, reduce reliance on chemicals, and ensure long-term soil health.
Pests thrive in environments where the same crops are grown continuously, as they can complete their life cycles without disruption. Crop rotation breaks these cycles and reduces pest populations in several ways:
Interrupting Pest Life Cycles – Many soil-borne pests, like wireworms and nematodes, build up in the soil when the same crop is grown repeatedly. So rotating crops disrupts their reproductive cycles, reduces their numbers naturally without relying on pesticides.
Reducing Fungal and Bacterial Disease Pressure – Pathogens like Rhizoctonia (affecting potatoes) and Cercospora leaf spot (impacting sugar beet) can persist in soil and crop debris. By alternating with less susceptible crops, disease can be reduced.
Managing Insect Populations – Pests like aphids, which transmit viral diseases to sugar beet and wheat, have fewer opportunities to establish if different crops are planted in succession.
Weed Suppression – Different crops create varying canopy covers, which affects weed populations. Turf competes with many weeds, reducing their seed bank for subsequent crops.
Sustainable soil management is key to long-term farming viability. Crop rotation plays a crucial role in preserving soil structure. Ultimately it can help prevent degradation, and increase resilience to extreme weather events.
Preventing Soil Erosion – Certain crops, like turf, provide excellent ground cover. It reduces the risk of soil erosion caused by wind and water. So rotating between deep-rooted and shallow-rooted crops further stabilises the soil.
Maintaining Soil Structure – Repetitive planting of a single crop, especially root crops like potatoes and sugar beet, can lead to soil compaction. By rotating with wheat or turf soil structure is preserved.
Enhancing Water Retention – Continuous cropping of potatoes and sugar beet can deplete soil moisture. Alternating with turf or wheat allows soil to recover and improves water retention.
Reducing Chemical Inputs – Crop rotation also reduces dependency on synthetic fertilisers and pesticides, promoting natural soil health. This helps maintain biodiversity within the soil ecosystem.
Nutrient depletion is a common issue in monoculture farming. Crop rotation mitigates this problem by diversifying the nutrient demands of different crops and enhancing organic matter content.
Balancing Nutrient Uptake – Different crops extract varying amounts of nutrients. potatoes and sugar beet are heavy feeders, while wheat has moderate nutrient demands. Rotating between these crops prevents excessive depletion of specific nutrients.
Improving Organic Matter Content – Turf contributes to soil organic matter when mowed and incorporated into the soil. This increases microbial activity and enhances soil fertility over time.
Enhancing Nitrogen Availability – Incorporating nitrogen-fixing crops like vegetables in rotation can significantly improve nitrogen availability for subsequent crops, reducing the need for synthetic fertilisers.
Reducing Soil-Borne Disease Impact – When the same crop is planted repeatedly, soil pathogens proliferate, leading to nutrient depletion and poor plant health. Crop rotation interrupts this cycle and ensures healthier, more productive soil.
To maximise the benefits of crop rotation, a well-planned sequence should be followed perhaps like the one below:
If you would like to talk over your plans or discuss a bespoke seed mix or turf application please get in touch.
