RESEARCH

The continual increase in herbicide-resistant weed species is a major threat to the long-term sustainability of California rice production systems. While crop rotations could play a role in mitigating this challenge, rotations are uncommon and little research has investigated the decision-making process and experiences of growers to understand why. In 2020, we interviewed rice growers throughout the Sacramento Valley with a focus on the top rice producing counties to determine the benefits of crop rotations in rice systems, as well as the barriers and opportunities for adoption. In total, 43 semi-structured interviews were conducted with around half of growers producing only rice and half practicing some form of crop rotation. Interview outcomes suggest weed control, soil health, and economic resilience were ranked as the top three benefits rotations provide. However, a myriad of factors prevents rice growers from adopting rotations. In general, rice-only growers felt that rotations were not as profitable as rice and therefore not economically feasible. Poor soil drainage or alkalinity issues, limited market access, and limited resources to produce other crops such as contractors, equipment, labor, and experience all pose significant challenges. In contrast, successful rotations require the inverse of these circumstances including soils with adequate drainage, access to diverse markets and access to aforementioned resources to produce other crops.  Based on these outcomes, the feasibility of rotations appears limited unless multiple economic and biophysical constraints are addressed through a holistic approach. Furthermore, if growers are to make informed decisions to adopt rotations, further research is necessary to investigate the perceived benefits of rotations for economics and soil health, as well as determine which crops are viable for different production environments.