Crop rotations synergize yield, nutrition, and revenue: a meta-analysis

Shingirai Mudare, Jingying Jing (), David Makowski, Xueqing He, Zhengyuan Liang, Zoe Sims, Thomas Cherico Wanger, David Tilman, Fusuo Zhang and Wen-Feng Cong ()
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Shingirai Mudare: China Agricultural University
Jingying Jing: China Agriculture University
David Makowski: Université Paris-Saclay AgroParisTech INRAE
Xueqing He: Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
Zhengyuan Liang: China Agricultural University
Zoe Sims: University of California
Thomas Cherico Wanger: Westlake University
David Tilman: University of California
Fusuo Zhang: China Agricultural University
Wen-Feng Cong: China Agricultural University

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Increasing agricultural yields through crop diversification may help achieve food and nutrition security. However, the benefits of a transition from monoculture to crop rotation may be reduced if trade-offs exist between yields, dietary energy, nutrients, and revenue. Here, we synthesize 3663 paired field-trial yield observations (1980–2024) and show that globally, crop rotation increased subsequent crop yield, with legume pre-crops outperforming non-legume pre-crops (23% and 16% average increases, respectively). Considering the entire sequence (i.e., pre-crop plus main crop), rotations increased total yields, dietary energy, protein, iron, magnesium, zinc, and revenue by 14–27% relative to continuous monoculture. Notably, win-win relationships among yield, nutrition, and revenue were consistently higher (33–54%) than trade-offs. Different high-performing crop rotations have been identified for several major agricultural production regions worldwide. These findings establish crop rotations as a strategic pathway to enhance synergies among agricultural yields, nutrition, and revenue compared to monoculture, offering scalable solutions for sustainable intensification.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-64567-9

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