külvikord

Külvikord is an agricultural concept referring to the planned sequence of crops grown on a field over multiple seasons or years. The term derives from Eesti words for sowing (külv) and cycle or order (kord). In practice it is a crop rotation plan that aims to optimize soil fertility, manage pests and diseases, and improve the overall productivity and sustainability of farming.

A külvikord typically groups crops into functional categories, such as cereals, legumes, oilseeds, and root crops, and specifies the order in which they are grown. It includes decisions on fallow periods or cover crops, timing of sowing and harvesting, and nutrient management through organic matter inputs or mineral fertilizers. The design of a rotation takes into account soil type, climate, previous yields, pest and disease pressure, and farm equipment and labor availability. Rotation length can vary from three to six years or more, and many systems incorporate break crops (crops that disrupt pest cycles) to reduce dependency on chemical controls.

Benefits of implementing a külvikord include improved soil structure and organic matter content, enhanced nutrient use efficiency, reduced buildup of pests and diseases, better weed control, and increased resilience to drought and erosion. While rotations can boost long-term productivity, they require careful planning, bookkeeping, and sometimes a short-term yield trade-off as the system transitions.

In practice, külvikord is a common planning tool in Estonian agriculture and is used to support sustainable farming practices and compliance with agricultural guidelines. See also crop rotation.