Nutrient Management Research Database

Selecting the right cover crop gives multiple benefits

The use of cover crops continues to increase as farmers seek to improve soil quality and reduce chemical inputs. Research and grower experience have shown that cover crops can provide multiple benefits related to soil protection, soil fertility, groundwater quality and pest management. Choosing the right cover crop is critical to successful cover cropping.

This article reviews the potential benefits and challenges of including cover crops in agricultural systems.  

This article is a review that does not present the results of specific research studies.  Rather, it discusses in general terms the potential benefits, challenges, and considerations of the use of cover crops in California agricultural systems.  The following topics are discussed:

• Nitrogen (N) additions from leguminous cover crops
• N uptake from grasses
• Cover crop water use
• Seasonal considerations
• Pest management
• Variety considerations
• Cover crops in annual rotations
• Self-reseeding cover crops