The alternation of crops means planting different species on the same land through a series of cycles that help the soil not to be exhausted.
Alternation is the act and consequence of alternating . This verb , which comes from the Latin word alternāre , has several meanings, generally linked to the variation or distribution of something.
For example: “The alternation between slow songs and other fast ones makes the album have different climates” , “We cannot allow indefinite re-elections: without alternation in power, democracy does not exist” , “The coach announced that he will not elect a single captain, but will opt for alternation so that several players can wear the ribbon."
The alternation in biology and agriculture
The idea of alternation appears in the field of biology with reference to the succession of asexual and sexual generations when plant or animal species reproduce. In sexual reproduction, the alternation of nuclear phases occurs. Meiosis results in a haploid phase, while the gametes then fuse to give rise to the diploid phase.
Crop alternation , on the other hand, refers to the practice of growing different plants in the same space through a series of cycles. In this way, the soil is not depleted. Furthermore, since plants have different needs and characteristics, diseases or pests are not prolonged.
The alternation in power is associated with periodic changes of rulers.
Government changes
In the field of politics , we speak of alternation to refer to the change of government . If the same political party governs during several consecutive electoral periods, or because there are no elections at all, alternation does not exist: power is always held by the same sector.
On the other hand, if the Conservative Party governs for four years, then the Liberal Party for four years and later the Conservative Party returns, the alternation of power occurs.
The alternation in Spain
Precisely a perfect example of political alternation of this type is found in Spain . In this country, at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th, a two-party system was established with alternation in the Restoration government. The two parties that took turns leading the country were the Liberal Party , whose leader was Práxedes Mateo Sagasta , and the Conservative Party , whose leader was Antonio Cánovas del Castillo from Malaga.
That stage, which was inspired by the existing model in the United Kingdom , put an end to the existing political pluralism and was also called turnism . During this process, the king, Alfonso XII, was in charge of deciding which party should be in charge of the country. And he did so taking into account the wear and tear that the political group in question might have at that moment or the needs of the people.
It is considered that with this measure of taking turns in power, to a certain extent, riots and all types of pronouncements were paralyzed.
What was called the El Pardo Pact also plays an important role in this process. It seems that it was an agreement reached by Sagasta and Cánovas at the time when the imminent death of the monarch was expected. In order to prevent a situation of instability from occurring when he died, they certified the need to reach consensus between both parties in favor of the country. That is, to establish a round of matches.