Technical Notes Cover Crops

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Role of Cover Crops in Conservation Planning

Rani G. Kumar, Girish K. Panicker* and Franklin O. Chukwuma Cover crops are annual, biennial or perennial small grains or legumes and grasses cultivated thickly between crops or intercropped with cash crops to develop a living mulch in order to protect and improve the soil. They are used globally in crop production to provide ground cover, sufficient biomass to turn under, and safeguard the soil. Cover crops are called “catch crops’ when they are raised for nutrients, following the primary crop. Advantages of Cover Crops The positive impacts of cover crops in the fields of soil and water conservation, environmental and ecological protection, sustainable farming systems, and agricultural and economical growth resources are multiple and outstanding. Cover crops are effective in increasing soil quality, soil tilth, and adding organic matter, soil N and humus to the soil. In aerating and loosening the soil, the rooting action of cover crops plays a large part. They prevent soil erosion, nitrogen leaching, weed problems, insect pests and plant pathogens. Cover crops considerably reduce the inputs of herbicides, and provide plant diversity and shelter to beneficial organisms. Purposes    

To conserve soil and water through the use of vegetation To maintain and /or improve soil availability, quality, and soil nutrients To suppress weeds, reduce insect pests and diseases, and increase crop yield To improve soil tilth, soil organic matter, and soil structure

Five significant and effective cover crops, namely Cow pea or Southern Peas (Vigna sinensis), English Peas (Pisum sativum), Clover (Trifolium incarnatum), Hairy Vetch (Vicia villosa), and Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum) are carefully studied here. General Criteria Applicable to all Purposes: Cover crops are useful for changing seasons. Specific crops serve the farmer in spring, fall and winter. They can be planted directly after the


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