What happens to soil nutrients in areas where farmers practice continuous cultivation without fallow periods?

In areas where farmers practice continuous cultivation without fallow periods, the soil nutrients become depleted over time. Continuous cropping without allowing the land to fallow prevents natural processes of nutrient restoration. The successive crops extract essential minerals from the soil, leading to nutrient imbalance and decreased fertility.

To address this, farmers resort to the addition of manure. Manure replenishes the soil by providing organic matter and essential nutrients, sustaining the soil’s fertility. Without fallow periods or nutrient-replenishing practices, continuous cultivation contributes to soil degradation, affecting crop yield and necessitating interventions to maintain soil health and productivity.