COVER CROP BENEFITS
BUILDING SOIL FERTILITY AND ORGANIC MATTER
• Improved fertiliser efficiency • Reduced reliance on artificial inputs • Slow fertility release throughout the growing season available for the subsequent crop • Increased worm activity which increases aeration and drainage through the soil profile • Soils with a high organic matter content are more friable
IMPROVING SOIL STRUCTURE
• Improved drainage through the profile reducing water logging • Reducing compaction will increase root biomass , increasing nutrient uptake
REDUCING SOIL EROSION
• Soil coverage throughout the winter will reduce water runoff as crops absorb physically available water and nutrients • Reduced soil erosion will increase water quality as nitrate and phosphate leech is reduced
WEED, DISEASE AND PEST MANAGEMENT
• Specific cover crops will reduce disease build up over winter • Specific cover crops have allelopathic activity, suppressing problem weeds • Specific crops have bio fumigant properties which reduce nematode populations
REDUCING NUTRIENT LOSS
• Fibrous rooting throughout the profile traps nitrogen, potash and phosphate within the crop which is then utilised in the following crop once incorporated. • Cover crops will also reduce pesticide leeching reducing the negative impact on water and habitat quality.
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