If you’ve ever pulled a few all-nighters in a row, you understand the importance of rest. Soil needs rest too in order to replenish nutrients. Traditionally that means rotating crops throughout the year, something many farmers ignore by simply planting the same crop year round. A new long-term study has found, however, that rotating crops not only lowers carbon emissions but also boosts yields. Scientists found that rotating corn leads to 20 percent higher yields. Plus, the fields end up with 35 percent less nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas that comes from fertilizer.