One of the many agronomic benefits of cover crops is their ability to take up and store nutrients. Decomposing cover crop biomass then releases those nutrients in a plant-available form for future crops. This project fills gaps on information that describes the nutrient contribution of cover crops and the resulting impact on the following cash crops. It increases understanding of the relationships between cover crop biomass and nutrient recycling. Efforts quantify nutrient uptake and biomass production of cover crops at different planting dates, as well as measuring changes in soil nutrient levels. The trials used a cover crop mix of legumes, like crimson clover and hairy vetch, with tillage radish, a brassica.
Key Benefactors:
farmers, agronomists, Extension agents