The situation of current crop rotations in Northern Germany: risks and chances for future farming systems

This study aimed at analysing patterns of crop sequences over time throughout the German federal state of Lower Saxony from 2005 to 2012. Therefore, the IACS (Integrated Administration and Control System) data was analysed for the identification of spatial and temporal pattern of crops grown on farmer’s fields. Lower Saxony is a region where maize growing had a steep increase and, therefore, was preferentially incorporated in farmer’s decisions on crop sequences and crop rotations. Furthermore winter wheat, oilseed rape, sugar beet and potatoes are the decisive components of crop sequences in this region. We distinguished between crop sequence patterns (any sequence, that could be identified generally) and crop rotation (a recurring pattern representing meaningful agronomical background). Studying crop sequence patterns on farmers’ fields during the six years (2005-2011), a total of 24 118 combinations of crops on 772 940 ha were determined. Only a small number of combinations represent a large proportion of the arable area. Continuous maize cropping covers 8.6 % of the whole arable area in Lower Saxony. The combinations of other crops are multiform. Typical crop rotations basing on oilseed rape or sugar beet are underrepresented on only 7% of arable land, respectively. The results suggest that crop rotation is a disregarded agricultural practice.