Abstract

Seasonal rainfall variability influences crop yield, and the climate-smart agriculture (CSA) strategy of crop rotation is no exception. This study assessed crop rotation as a CSA strategy on low fertile sandy soils in the North-Western Free State, South Africa, with a focus on the influence of rainfall variability. A field trial was conducted where rotational systems including maize, soybean and cover crops were compared and monitored for five consecutive seasons (2020/2021 to 2024/2025). Crop yields and rainfall data were collected and used for statistical analysis. Results showed a rotational benefit of maize yields being on average 20% higher when grown after soybean. Seasonal variation affected all crop yields with rainfall timing emerging as a critical factor. Although soybean was more tolerant to higher rainfall, no rotational system was less sensitive to rainfall timing. These findings suggest complementary adoption of CSA strategies based on rainfall timing, rather than total amounts, to ensure sustainable crop production on sandy soils.

Key words: Climate-smart agriculture, crop rotation, rainfall variability, sandy soils.