What is Cover Cropping?

Cover cropping is a practice that is increasingly being recognised for its benefits in regenerative and sustainable agriculture research worldwide. Essentially, it refers to planting a non-cash crop, commonly called a cover crop, between the periods of primary crop production, such as between a summer crop and the following year’s crop.

Cover cropping primarily aims to protect and improve the soil by maintaining a plant cover on the soil surface throughout the year. This stops wind and water erosion, which can blow or wash away valuable topsoil. Cover crops, like cereal grains, legume cover crops, and broadleaf crops, provide this soil protection. Other cover crops include grass cover crops such as winter rye, cereal rye, winter wheat, and annual ryegrass, which can also provide soil protection.

These cover crops can also enhance soil health and quality in several ways. Their root systems, particularly those of deep-rooted cover crops, can help to break up compacted soil layers, improving soil structure and capturing nutrients deep in the soil profile.

Legumes as Nitrogen Fixers

Leguminous cover crops, like hairy vetch, crimson clover, and Austrian winter peas, can fix nitrogen, adding valuable nutrients to the soil and boosting soil fertility. This can reduce nutrient loss and lessen the risk of water pollution. Furthermore, they can also improve soil moisture retention and water infiltration. Improved soil moisture increases water availability and potentially improves water quality.

Cover cropping and weed control

Planting cover crop seeds, typically in early fall or late summer, can also aid weed control. The cover crops can outcompete and smother weeds. Cover crop species can help control pests by attracting insects and other beneficial organisms. This can enhance the overall health of the farming system and contribute to biodiversity.

Soil Carbon Sequestration

Cover crops also have the potential to contribute to climate change mitigation. They can sequester carbon in the soil, increasing soil organic matter levels. Furthermore, plant residue left after cover crops can act as green manure crops, providing additional organic matter and nutrients to the soil.

Cover cropping planning

However, cover crop species selection and planting dates are critical for the best results. The cover crop must be suitable for the specific climate and must be sown at the appropriate time. For instance, cereal rye and winter wheat are common cover crops sown post-harvest. On the other hand, crops like hairy vetch and crimson clover may be planted as an intercrop or pre-plant cover crop.

Good seed-to-soil contact is necessary to ensure the best germination rates for the successful use of cover crops. Terminating the cover crop at the right time is also essential to ensure it doesn’t compete with the subsequent crop.

Benefits of Cover Cropping

The environmental benefits of cover crops are numerous, and current research also indicates possible financial advantages for farmers who adopt this practice. Cover crops can improve the soil’s ability to support primary cash crop growth, improve net profit, and potentially boost cash crop yields.

In conclusion, cover cropping offers other benefits for conservation purposes and overall agricultural systems. It can improve soil health, manage pests and weeds, provide ground cover, and even offer a climate change solution. Cover cropping is a cultural practice that could significantly benefit farming in the future. However, farmers need to access additional information, education programs, and current research to ensure they get the most from this method of regenerative farming.