Which of the following is NOT a benefit of crop rotation?

Crop rotation is an agricultural practice where different crops are planted in a specific sequence over several growing seasons. This method brings a variety of benefits, including improved soil fertility, reduction of pests, and better yields.

Improved soil fertility occurs because different crops have different nutrient requirements and contribute various organic matter levels to the soil. For instance, leguminous plants can fix nitrogen, enriching the soil for the subsequent crops.

Reduction of pests happens as rotating crops disrupts the life cycles of pests and diseases that tend to thrive when a single crop is grown repeatedly. Pests often develop host preferences, so changing crops forces them to look for new hosts, which can lower their populations.

Better yield results from healthier soil and reduced pest and disease pressure, making it easier for plants to thrive and produce effectively.

While it may seem that crop rotation could lead to reduced labor by simplifying farming practices, in reality, it often requires additional planning, management, and sometimes even more diverse farming equipment. Farmers need to manage different planting and harvesting schedules, which can increase labor requirements at certain times. Therefore, the reduction of required labor is not a commonly recognized benefit of crop rotation.