Final answer:
Farmers in Illinois rotate corn and soybeans to maintain soil fertility. Soybeans help replenish depleted nitrogen from the soil, benefiting the subsequent corn crops and reducing reliance on fertilizers.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Illinois, the two most common crops grown are corn and soybeans. Corn, being a cereal crop, tends to deplete soil of nitrogen, a crucial nutrient for plant growth. On the other hand, soybeans, a type of legume, benefit from a symbiotic relationship with bacteria known as Rhizobium, which can fix atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can use.
To manage soil health and maintain the balance of nutrients, farmers often practice crop rotation. This involves planting corn one year and soybeans the next, allowing the soil to replenish its nitrogen levels naturally. The soybeans not only add nitrogen to the soil, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers, but also prime the soil for the next season's corn crop.
Through crop rotation, farmers can sustainably manage soil fertility without over-reliance on chemical fertilizers, preserving the ecosystem services provided by soil organisms. This practice supports the maintenance of healthy soil, rich in nutrients, and maintains the crop success over the long term. As a result, farmers can produce healthy crops with higher yields and at a lower cost, making food more affordable and accessible.