Which method is used in integrated crop-livestock systems to improve nutrient cycling?

In integrated crop-livestock systems, rotating crops and integrating livestock is a key method for improving nutrient cycling. This approach enhances both soil health and productivity by creating a synergistic relationship between crops and livestock. When crops and livestock are integrated, the manure produced by livestock provides essential nutrients to the soil, which supports crop growth.

Moreover, crop residues left on the field after harvest can be grazed by livestock, which helps in recycling nutrients back into the soil as the animals graze and their waste returns nutrients to the ground. The diversity of crop rotations and the presence of livestock also contribute to improved soil structure, enhanced microbial activity, and better overall nutrient availability in the ecosystem, thus leading to more sustainable agricultural practices.

Other options like reducing composting practices or using monocultures do not contribute positively to nutrient cycling within the integrated system. Similarly, the mere incorporation of high-yielding crop varieties does not inherently improve nutrient cycling unless they are part of a broader system that includes integrated livestock management.