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Cover crops have become a well-accepted management practice for improving soil health. However, many farmers and farm advisors are unfamiliar with the best strategies for using cover crops in a way that accelerates soil health improvements. This chapter describes how selection of cover crop species and mixes, timing of cover crop seeding and termination, management of residue and tillage, and cover crop grazing can impact overall soil health improvement. Relevant data from the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) and Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) National Cover Crop Survey is included to illustrate farmer experiences with cover crops. New technology used with cover crop management such as virtual fencing for cover crop grazing are described. The chapter concludes by assessing different levels of cover crop adoption, each with progressively more potential for soil health improvement.
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Enhancing the duration of cover crop growth
- 3 Getting a good stand of cover crops
- 4 Choice of cover crop species, varieties and mixtures
- 5 Cover crop root systems
- 6 Carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratio of cover crops
- 7 Additional factors affecting persistence of cover crop residue
- 8 Combining cover crops with no-till
- 9 The role of grazing cover crops
- 10 Conclusion
- 11 Where to look for further information
- 12 References