Rotation as a strategy to increase the sustainability of potato crop

Abstract

Potato cultivation is characterized by a high use of inputs, which results in soil degradation and contamination. Crop rotation is a good practice to counteract these problems. This study aimed to assess the sustainability of three rotation sequences (potato-pea-potato, potato-oat-pea and potato-potato-oat) using the sustainability assessment methodology oriented to agricultural experiments associated with soil management. It was observed that, both environmentally and economically, potato-potato-oat is the most sustainable treatment, while potato-oat-pea is the most socially sustainable. Balancing the three dimensions, potato-potato-oat is the most sustainable treatment, with sustainability index of 0.85, while potato-pea-potato is the least sustainable one, with 0.64. The potato-potato-oat rotation sequence generates a less negative environmental impact, as well as a higher social equity and economic return for the farmer.