Effects of Crop Rotation and Continuous Cropping on Soil Health and Crop Yields

Agricultural systems worldwide face increasing pressure to ensure food security while maintaining environmental quality, improving resilience to climate change, and addressing emerging socio-economic challenges [1,2]. In this context, the careful selection and proper management of cropping systems appear to be key factors in determining both soil health and agricultural productivity [3]. The crop rotation system has historically been recognized as a pillar of sustainable agriculture for its ability to maintain soil fertility, reduce weed, pest and disease pressure, and enhance biodiversity, thereby ensuring volumes and quality of crop yields [4,5]. Conversely, continuous cropping (monoculture), especially over the long term, often results in the accumulation of biotic and abiotic stresses, declining yields, soil degradation, and reduced resilience of the agroecosystem [6].

The Special Issue entitled “Effects of Crop Rotation and Continuous Cropping on Soil Health and Crop Yields” was conceived to provide an international forum for presenting the latest research on the importance of these two contrasting cropping systems. It was expected to bring together a collection of articles addressing the evaluation of plant species’ response to continuous cropping, the quality and quantity of crop residues, changes in soil properties, the diversity of soil microorganisms, beneficial and harmful organisms in the soil, weed infestations, fungal pathogens, plant health, and protective treatments to limit the negative effects of the adverse crop sequence. Ultimately, five contributions were published in this Special Issue, offering insights from long-term field experiments conducted under diverse environmental conditions and management regimes.

Two papers focus on soil health and the mechanisms that govern soil function under long-term agricultural management. Koubová et al. [7] investigated the effects of fifty years of continuous spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cropping on Gleyic Fluvisol in the Czech Republic. They showed that straw management and nitrogen fertilization substantially affected soil aggregate stability and productivity. Their findings highlight the complex interactions among soil chemical properties, organic matter dynamics, and soil structural stability. Although nitrogen fertilization contributed to soil acidification, it also promoted aggregate stability through mineralogical and geochemical changes. This underscores the importance of evaluating soil quality using multiple, complementary indicators rather than individual parameters. A broader perspective on soil conservation was provided by Cao et al. [8], who examined the effects of long-term mulching practices on sloping croplands of the Loess Plateau in China. Their study showed that mulching significantly enhanced soil organic carbon sequestration, improved aggregate stability, and reduced spatial variability of soil properties along the slope. Particularly noteworthy was the ability of straw mulching and ridge–furrow plastic film mulching to increase macro-aggregate formation and carbon accumulation, thereby strengthening soil resilience. These findings highlight the role of conservation-oriented management practices in mitigating soil degradation and enhancing carbon storage in vulnerable agroecosystems.

The remaining three contributions to this Special Issue are based on experiments conducted in Poland, which examine the effects of crop rotation and continuous cropping on crop productivity, yield stability, and grain or tuber quality. Woźniak and Haliniarz [9] demonstrated the substantial agronomic benefits of crop rotation in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production on Rendzic Phaeozem. Wheat grown after common pea (Pisum sativum L.) yielded more than twice as much grain as wheat grown in a 35-year cereal monoculture and exhibited superior grain quality. Importantly, crop sequence had a stronger influence on yield and quality parameters than tillage practices, reinforcing the central role of crop rotation in sustainable cereal production. The negative consequences of long-term monoculture in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) production were explored by Tyburski et al. [10]. Their results, obtained from one of the longest-running continuous potato experiments in Europe, confirmed significant reductions in yield and marketable tuber production under continuous cropping. However, the introduction of oil radish (Raphanus sativus L.) as an intercrop substantially reduced these negative effects, proving to be a more effective solution than cultivar choice or the use of chemical plant protection products. The study illustrates how biologically based interventions can partially compensate for the absence of crop rotation and improve both yield performance and crop quality. Finally, Kostrzewska and Jastrzębska [11] evaluated the potential of hybrid cultivars and chemical crop protection to sustain winter rye (Secale cereale L.) productivity under continuous cropping on Luvisol soils. Their research demonstrated that a hybrid rye cultivar exhibited greater yield stability and resilience to environmental variability than a population cultivar. Moreover, when combined with rational crop protection, hybrid rye grown in continuous cropping achieved yields comparable to or even exceeding those of the population one cultivated in crop rotation. These findings indicate that genetic improvement and targeted agronomic management may help mitigate some of the productivity losses associated with long-term monoculture systems.

Collectively, the papers published in this Special Issue demonstrate that soil health and crop productivity are closely interconnected outcomes of cropping system design and management. While crop rotation remains the most effective strategy for sustaining both soil quality and agricultural productivity, innovative practices such as mulching, intercropping, residue management, and improved cultivars can significantly mitigate the negative impact of continuous cropping. We hope that together, these studies will contribute valuable knowledge and offer practical recommendations for farmers, advisors, and policymakers seeking to develop resilient and sustainable agricultural systems capable of meeting future food production challenges.