Problem: Intensive farming expends the "asset" called soil, replacing value with vulnerability. Unhealthy soil suffers high storm erosion, loss of organic materials and vital organisms. Depleted organic material, plus the very fine surface "seal" after first irrigation or rain, cuts water percolation and holding capacity. Exhausted soil amplifies runoff - turning important nutrients, chemicals, and pesticides into serious downstream pollution problems. Costly synthetic fertilizers compensate for unhealthy soil, but then stimulate weed growth and pollution. Empty bare ground threatens other resources, diminishing crop-friendly habitat, the homes for beneficial insects and supportive life-forms.

 Solution: Like a warm coat in a winter storm, cover crops keep the good in and keep the bad out. The multiple benefits of cover crops emerge when they're planted after harvest. Not only reducing bare areas, thus checking weed explosions and saving on mowing, carefully selected cover crops anchor the soil throughout the winter. That prevents soil, nutrient, and pesticide runoff while allowing unwanted chemicals to break down, be metabolized, and thus filtered on site.
Cover crop roots tunnel deep into the soil, allowing water to penetrate key root zones. Root growth below and green growth above supply organic matter, slowly and continuously breaking down into fertilizer, producing food for micro-organisms, and sponges that hold water. Suitable cover crop plants provide flower-nectar sources and hiding places for predatory insects that feed on crop pests.
In short, a family of cover crops provide a family of benefits to increase soil health- preserving the old while adding new nutrients, absorbing chemicals to clean irrigation water, controlling erosion, and harboring good bugs. Cover crops may grow near the surface but benefits extend up, down, and across.

For additional information about cover crop installation in our Resource Library, select:

Cover Crops Installation Guide