A crop production system that involves planting alternating strips of row crops and close-growing forage crops; the forage strips intercept and slow runoff from the less protected row crop strips. This is why strip cropping is useful in preventing soil erosion and is practiced by farmers to preserve the quality of agricultural areas. An example of strip cropping would be the growing of cotton and a sod-forming crop such as alfalfa, in alternating strips following the natural contour of the land.