Abstract Crop pasture rotations (CPR) are unusual around the world but have been the predominant cropping system in Uruguay since the 1960s. Uruguay has a temperate sub-humid climate, 80% of its landscape (16 Mha) is climax grasslands C3 and C4 species. Beef, wool, and dairy are the main commodities. Crops occupy a portion of the remaining 20% land area, primarily on Argiudolls and Vertisols, rotated with seeded grass and legume pastures. Continuous cropping (CC) with conventional tillage (CT) has proven unsustainable due to decreased soil productivity.