Relay cropping

Technical articles

Field crops Field crops

Relay cropping is an innovative agricultural technique that allows the production of two crops on the same plot within a year. This method involves sowing a second crop (usually a spring crop) into a first crop (often a winter cereal) several months before the latter is harvested.

See also the article on double cropping.

Principle and objectives

Relay cropping aims to optimize resource use and increase the productivity of agricultural land. The main objectives are:

• Produce two harvests per year on the same plot
• Improve soil cover and reduce erosion
• Increase biodiversity and soil health
• Optimize the use of water and nutrients
• Potentially increase farmers' income

Implementation

The success of relay cropping depends on several key factors:

1. Crop selection: The most common combination is a winter cereal (wheat or barley) followed by a spring crop (soybean, sorghum).
2. Sowing timing: The second crop is generally sown at the beginning of the heading stage of the first crop, often in April or May for soybean in a winter cereal.
3. Equipment adaptation: Sowing the second crop requires specific equipment to avoid damaging the standing crop. Adapted or modified seeders are often used.
4. Sowing architecture: For the winter cereal, it is recommended to sow with wider spacing, for example by closing 2 rows out of 4, to facilitate sowing and development of the spring crop.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages

• Potential increase in overall plot productivity
• Better use of resources (water, nutrients, light)
• Reduced risks related to unfavorable weather conditions for late sowing
• Improvement of soil structure and its organic matter content

Disadvantages

• Increased technical complexity, especially for sowing the second crop
• Risk of competition between the two crops for resources
• Possible reduction in yield of the first crop (up to 15-17% for barley)
• Potential difficulties during harvest, especially if crops mature at different times

Successful contexts

Relay cropping is particularly suited to the following situations:

• Regions where climatic conditions do not allow two successive conventional crops
• Farms equipped with suitable machinery or willing to invest in new equipment
• Farmers seeking to diversify their production and optimize land use
• Areas facing soil conservation or water management challenges

Perspectives

Although relay cropping is still experimental in many regions, especially in France, this technique is attracting growing interest in light of the climatic and economic challenges of modern agriculture. Research is ongoing to optimize practices and assess the long-term benefits of this approach on the sustainability of agricultural systems.

References

• Relay cropping: an emerging and already appealing technique (terre-net.fr)
• Relay cropping - Sylvain Delzon (sylvain-delzon.com)