Grainswest - Spring 2026

Spring 2026 grainswest.com 29 FEATURE ROTATION RETHINK Research suggests long-term gains possible with changes to crop lineup By Geoff Geddes V ariety is the spice of life, and a shakeup in crop rotation may add bite to the farm bottom line. This is the premise of recent research on crop rotation and its impact on profits and the environment. Through analysis of 20 years of Saskatchewan farmland insurance data on rotational choices in correlation with soil organic carbon (SOC) levels, researchers Devin Serfas and Richard Gray found clear benefits in certain rotations. “We wanted to assess the long-term effects of crop rotation on yield,” said Serfas, an assistant professor and Results Driven Agriculture Research chair in applied agricultural economics and risk management at the University of Alberta. Gray is the Canadian grain research chair at the University of Saskatchewan and led the project on behalf of the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission. “We knew certain rotations increase SOC, which is a key factor in soil health,” said Serfas. “In field trials, more SOC meant greater yields, but is it the same on-farm?” As an economist, Serfas wondered how various rotations would impact profitability. He was also intrigued by the effect of specific rotations on carbon sequestration. Seeking answers, he spoke with soil scientists and examined their digital modelling that illustrates the efficiency of carbon sequestration in various rotations. A BLACK AND BROWN ISSUE “In areas with a lot of precipitation, the most effective rotation for increasing yield was canola-spring wheat-canola-spring wheat,” said Serfas. “For brown soil zones, however, canola- spring wheat-pea-spring wheat was the best option. Since canola requires considerable moisture to thrive, you should limit its involvement in those drier brown zones.” As well, increases in SOC had a greater impact on yield in brown zones, where soil carbon levels are typically lower than in dark gray or black zones. From a crop standpoint, wheat and durum saw a better yield benefit from higher SOC than other crops. “Our main takeaway was that, in deciding on their crop rotation, farmers should consider not only commodity prices, but also how that rotation will affect carbon sequestration and its long-term impact. You might not see benefits in the first few years, as they build up over decades.”