Test PB Collection: FTE

A wide range of leguminous and non-leguminous cover crops are used in California. The table below, adapted from Managing Cover Crops Profitably, will help you narrow your search based on the beneficial roles of cover crops common in your region.

These case studies dive deep into specific farming issues that are often mentioned by growers as potential barriers to using cover crops, or particular challenges while cover cropping.

This database describes the cover cropping strategies, detailed practices, benefits, and challenges of experienced cover crop growers in orchards and vineyards in the southern Sacramento Valley (including the Capay Valley) and the North Coast viticulture region.

Cover crops have many potential benefits, but there are also important challenges and management implications to consider when deciding whether to use cover crops and which crop or mixture of crops to choose.

Medic and clover mix. Photo by Chuck Ingels. The timing of establishment, termination and incorporation of a cover crop can affect the potential benefits provided by the cover crop and the performance of the cash crop.

Farmer profiles feature different farmers discussing their nutrient management efforts around their farm to feature innovative, creative, and high quality practices.

Cover crops can be broadly defined as any non-cash crop grown in addition to the primary cash crop. They have the potential to increase soil organic matter (SOM), protect the soil from erosion, improve soil structure and water infiltration, increase soil fertility, and break pest and disease cycles.

We have compiled information on California native plants in this database for growers to learn about the attributes of various native species for use as possible cover crops.

Cover crops have many benefits. They have the potential to increase soil organic matter, protect the soil from erosion, improve soil structure and water infiltration, increase soil fertility, and break pest and disease cycles.

Navigate to: UC SAREP Cover Crop Database Expert Grower Database: Cover Cropping Practices in Orchards and Vineyards Challenges: Expert Grower Perspectives Farmer Profiles: On-Farm Practices Equipment to Manage Cover Crops in Annual Rotations.