Research has shown that unrestricted grazing of croplands can have detrimental effects on soil health, but it is suggested that moderate grazing of cover crops (CC) may increase the beneficial
Crop residue management can affect soil water dynamics. The retention of plant residues on the soil surface helps conserve soil water, maintain soil fertility, and provide other ecosystem services. Evidence
Lack of attractive short-term economic returns to growers and limited time for cover crop establishment following maize and soybean harvest are major reasons for slow cover crop adoption. Therefore, alternative
Corn stover, when removed in excessive amounts, can lead to soil degradation. However, without stover harvest, producers can face residue management problems with subsequent crops which most often results in
Hairy vetch is commonly used as a green manure cover crop; the species excels in winter hardiness and nitrogen supply to subsequent cash crops. With prevalent pod dehiscence (PD) and
A summarization of the prior knowledge about potential cover crop benefits is needed for broader understanding of cover crop impacts on soil agricultural production and knowledge gaps that need further
Most agricultural soils are depleted of their soil organic matter (SOM) reserves. A severe loss of SOM content may degrade soil functionality, its capacity for provisioning of essential ecosystem services,
Compared to tilled soil, no-till soils are cooler and wetter, potentially delaying planting dates and seed germination. Despite the benefits of cover crops, no-till farmers that use CCs tend to
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
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 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
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
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
Ron Morse (Virginia Tech, emeritus) shares how to successfully fit cover crops into a vegetable rotation, including establishment methods, matching the right species to the right methods, recommended rotations and
Greg Roth (Penn State) presents on behalf of Scott Rushe (Seedway), discussing his take on the future of cover crops, including past and current demand for cover crop seeds (species,
Mary and Zack talk about taking grazing to the next level. Mary dives into detail about the feed value of different cover crops while Zack introduces stock-cropping, his innovative way
To sustain and improve the health of their soil and reduce erosion, farmers can implement various management practices that have both costs and benefits to the farmer. When farmers make
Limited precipitation has long challenged agriculture on the Colorado Plateau, drought and low precipitation levels continue to limit agricultural production in the region. Despite the potential benefits offered by cover
Although ecological rationales for cover cropping have been elucidated, the implementation of the practice lags. There has been slow and limited adoption of cover cropping in many parts of the
Steven Mirsky (USDA-ARS) and Greg Roth (Penn State University) provide a rundown of common establishment methods for cover crops: aerial seeding, interseeding and post-harvest drilling. They also discuss the importance