No-tillers recognize the fact that the millions of microbes living underground in their fields are continually improving soil quality by cycling nutrients and turning residues into organic matter.

With most corn belt no-tillers growing only corn and soybeans, many of the major benefits of crop rotations are being overlooked. Even so, a recent University of Illinois study on the impact crop rotations have on soil quality may have raised more questions due to the favorable results found with continuous corn.