What is one purpose of crop rotation in soil health and pest management?

• A. Disrupts pest life cycles, reduces disease pressure, improves soil structure, and balances nutrient use.
• B. Increases pest habitat and reduces soil fertility.
• C. Monocultures improve pest control.
• D. Increases water usage.

Answer: (A)

Crop rotation in soil health and pest management aims to interrupt pest life cycles and reduce disease, while also benefiting the soil and nutrient balance. By not planting the same crop every season, pests that rely on that crop lose a continuous food source, which helps lower pest populations and disease pressure since many pathogens are crop-specific. The different crops with varying root systems and residue improve soil structure—creating better porosity, aeration, and water infiltration, and reducing soil compaction. At the same time, rotating crops balances nutrient use because different plants draw on and contribute different nutrients; using legumes, for example, can add nitrogen to the soil, while other crops may replenish or conserve other nutrients. Choices suggesting that rotation increases pest habitat, reduces soil fertility, promotes monocultures, or increases water usage don’t align with how rotation supports healthier soil and better pest control.