Introduction:
Crop rotation is an important practice in agriculture where different crops are grown in a particular field in different seasons. The practice of alternating pulses with crops like wheat and rice is one such crop rotation technique.

Benefits of crop rotation:
Crop rotation offers several benefits such as:

1. Improving soil quality: Different crops have different nutrient requirements. By rotating crops, farmers can ensure that the soil is not depleted of particular nutrients. This helps in maintaining the soil quality.

2. Reducing soil erosion: Different crops have different root systems. By alternating crops, farmers can ensure that the soil is held together by different root systems, reducing soil erosion.

3. Controlling pests and diseases: Growing the same crop repeatedly in the same field can lead to the buildup of pests and diseases. By rotating crops, farmers can break this cycle and reduce the incidence of pests and diseases.

4. Improving yield: Crop rotation can improve the yield of crops. For example, pulses fix nitrogen in the soil, which can benefit subsequent crops like wheat and rice.

Why are pulses alternated with crops like wheat and rice?
Pulses are nitrogen-fixing crops that add nitrogen to the soil. Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for plant growth, and crops like wheat and rice require a lot of nitrogen. By alternating pulses with crops like wheat and rice, farmers can ensure that the soil has adequate nitrogen for these crops to grow.

In addition to nitrogen fixation, pulses also have other benefits. They have deep root systems that can help break up compacted soil, and they can also help control weeds. By alternating pulses with crops like wheat and rice, farmers can take advantage of these benefits.

Conclusion:
Crop rotation is an important practice in agriculture that offers several benefits. Alternating pulses with crops like wheat and rice can help maintain soil quality, reduce soil erosion, control pests and diseases, and improve yield. By adopting this practice, farmers can ensure sustainable agriculture and improve their livelihoods.

Pulses are alternated with crops like wheat and rice because thesecrops consume lot of nitrogen from the soil. The roots of pulses form an association with nitrogen-fixing bacteria and convert the atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, which is used by plants.