What is the main purpose of crop rotation?

The main purpose of crop rotation is to disrupt pest life cycles and reduce pest populations. By regularly changing the type of crops grown in a particular area, it becomes more challenging for pests to establish themselves and thrive. Many pests are specialized to certain crops, so rotating crops can starve these pests of their preferred food sources, thereby breaking their reproductive cycles and reducing their overall numbers.

In addition to pest management, crop rotation can have other benefits such as improving soil health and fertility over time, but primarily, its role in pest control is significant. This practice encourages biodiversity, which can lead to creating conditions that are less favorable for certain pests while promoting natural pest predators.