Evaluating Cover Crops for Benefits, Costs and Performance within Cropping System Niches

• DOI: 10.2134/agronj2005.0322a
• Publication Date: 2021-06-08T21:47:58Z
• Authors: S. S. Snapp; S. M. Swinton; R. Labarta; D. Mutch; J. R. Black; R. Leep; J. Nyiraneza; K. O'Neil
• Keywords: Trifolium repens; Secale

The integration of cover crops into cropping systems brings costs and benefits, both internal external to the farm. Benefits include promoting pest‐suppression, soil water quality, nutrient cycling efficiency, cash crop productivity. Costs adopting increased direct costs, potentially reduced income if interfere with other attractive crops, slow warming, difficulties in predicting N mineralization, production expenses. Cover benefits tend be higher irrigated systems. literature is reviewed here along Michigan farmer experience evaluate promising species for four niches: Northern winter (USDA Hardiness Zones 5–6), summer (Zones Southern 7–8), 7–8). Warm season C 4 grasses are outstanding performers niches (6–9 Mg ha −1 ), rye ( Secale cereale L.) most (0.8–6 ) across all hardiness zones reviewed. Legume–cereal mixtures such as sudangrass Sorghum sudanese L.)–cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L wheat Triticum aestivum L.)–red clover Trifolium pretense effective means produce substantial amounts (28 mixed quality residues. Legume covers growers expensive establish. At same time, legumes fix N, high but limited (0.5–4 residues, enhance beneficial insect habitat. Brassica glucosinolate‐containing residues (2–6 suppress plant‐parasitic nematodes soil‐borne disease. reliable yields compared fallows or species. However, goals circumstances must considered. If pests a major yield limiting factor production, then use brassica should Cereal largest amount biomass considered when goal rapidly build organic matter. brassica–cereal show promise over wide range niches.