ABSTRACT
Crop rotation: a sustainable system for maize production Bao-Luo Ma, Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada; and Zhigang Wang, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, China
1 Introduction: escalating global food demand and environmental challenges
2 The simplification of cropping systems and associated problems for sustainability
3 Yield enhancement in maize-legume rotation systems
4 The impact of crop rotation on soil quality
5 The impact of crop rotation on soil fertility and nutrient use efficiency
6 Additional benefits of maize-legume rotation
7 Summary and future trends
8 Where to look for further information
9 Acknowledgements
10 References
The challenge of securing the global food supply and environmental sustainability is increasingly recognized by policy makers and scientific communities (Ma and Wu, 2016). Considering both global population growth and increased consumption of animal protein, global food demand is likely to double by 2050 against a backdrop of a changing climate and an unsustainable use of land, water, energy and labour (Tilman et al., 2011). As the major caloric source of human beings, production of cereal crops such as maize (or corn; Zea mays L.) has grown fast to fulfil food demand during the past century (Wu and Ma, 2015), with modern agricultural practices such as intensive mono-cropping, genetic improvements and the heavy use of agrochemicals for nutrient supply and pest/disease control.
