Growing row crops first started in Ancient China in the 6th century BC.
[2] The distinction is significant in crop rotation strategies, where land is planted with row crops, commodity food grains, and sod-forming crops in a sequence meant to protect the quality of the soil while maximizing the soil's annual productivity.
[4] During the growing season, the inter-row spaces are hoed two to four times and the rows are weeded to conserve moisture and improve aeration.
As a result, the soil's microbiological activity increases and mobilization of nutrients is intensified.
Examples of row crops include sunflower, potato, canola, dry bean, field pea, flax, safflower, buckwheat, cotton, maize, soybeans, and sugar beets.