Healthy soils constitute the foundation of thriving ecosystems and societies and are directly tied to food and nutritional security, water quality, human health, climate change mitigation/adaptation, and biodiversity. While soil
In agroecosystems, small increase in biodiversity can lead to large benefits for ecosystem function. Cover crop mixtures can increase the functional trait diversity of crop rotations during windows between cultivation
The soil health improvements that can come with the use of cover crops are associated with a variety of potential on-field benefits for the farmer. Cover crops can enhance soil
Cover crops are a tractable way to increase agroecosystem diversity because it is possible to enhance diversity without fundamentally changing other aspects of farm management. The positive relationship between biodiversity
Farming practices like tilling and herbicide application reduce plant diversity by removing natural vegetation and resulting decreases in plant resources can make agricultural landscapes inhospitable for natural enemies of herbivorous
Bioenergy production could provide more sustainable energy and reduce dependency on fossil fuels, while using existing infrastructure for fuel delivery. Crop stover, not used for food, represents an important feedstock
The success of invasive plants has been partly attributed to their effects on soil biota, especially arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). AMF help plants acquire nutrients, drought tolerant, and resist pathogens.
Cover cropping is a promising sustainable agricultural method with the potential to enhance soil health and mitigate consequences of soil degradation. Because cover cropping can form an agroecosystem distinct from
The number of local urban farms producing fruit and vegetables for local farmers’ markets in the USA is on the rise. Local farms usually own small walk-behind tractors with interchangeable
Compost and cover crops are often used to add organic matter to the soil in frequently tilled, intensive organic vegetable production systems. The objectives of this study were to quantify
Removal of biomass for bioenergy production may decrease soil organic carbon. While perennials or cover‐cropped grains often have greater root production than annual grain crops, they variably impact soil carbon
The use of plastic mulch film is standard practice in many conventional and organic fresh market vegetable production systems. Key benefits of plastic mulch include temperature moderation, increased moisture retention,
Meta-analysis is a statistical approach to combine multiple, independent studies across years, locations, soil texture, timeframes, and other experimental conditions to characterize consistency of outcomes. To systematically evaluate cover crop
Insect pests are one of the major limitations in agronomy and horticultural crop production. Intensive use of synthetic chemical insecticides for pest control has caused numerous well-known issues including increased
One of the most promising climate mitigation and adaptation interventions in agroecosystems is the practice of cover cropping. In temperate climates, such as the U.S. Midwest, cover cropping occurs during
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