Cover Crop
Benefits
Crop
Yields Soil
Quality Beneficial
Insects Diseases
and Nematodes Weeds Nutrient
Availability Soil
Compaction Soil
Moisture Erosion Runoff Organic
Matter Infiltration
Cover Crops and Infiltration
Cover crops increase infiltration in several ways. First, they cover the soil, thereby protecting soil aggregates. If unprotected soil aggregates are broken down, the smaller resulting particles can form a crust and seal the soil surface. Second, they add organic matter to the soil, which can increase soil aggregation. Adding organic matter also increases biological activity, which can also increase soil aggregation. In general, cover crops with lower nitrogen content (e.g. cereal grains) increase infiltration more than higher nitrogen cover crops like legumes. This is thought to be due to the faster breakdown of high nitrogen residues in the soil.
Cover crops can also increase infiltration indirectly. Because a covered soil provides a better habitat for earthworms than a bare soil, there may be more worm burrows with cover crops. These burrows and the roots of cover crops could provide additional pathways for water moving into and through the soil, increasing infiltration.
More Information on Infiltration
Sustainable Soil Management, P. Sullivan, ATTRA
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