"Mother Nature keeps the ground covered, and a living root in the soil, for nine to ten months out of the year. Then we came along and started doing tillage to grow row crops. By growing corn or soybeans, we keep a living plant on the soil surface just five months or so a year," says Paul Jasa, engineer in biological agriculture systems at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, in a recent interview with Agriculture.com.
Why Plant Cover Crops?
Jasa, who studied cover crop and no-till systems for more than two decades, farmers need to understand why they want to grow cover crops.
There are numerous reasons:
- Erosion control
- Nutrient capture/recycle
- Improved soil health
- Water management
- Biodiversity
- Nitrogen fixation
- Reduced compaction
- Weed supression
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