Section 10: Cover Crops
Cover Crops
- Cover Crops and Stewardship
- Purposes of Cover Crops
- Cover Crop Selection and Management
- Tips for No-till Planting into Cover Crops
Tables
- Table 1.10-1. Typical aboveground biomass production and nitrogen contribution of some cover crops and cover crop mixtures in southern Pennsylvania.
- Table 1.10-2. Some C:N ratios of cover crops.
- Table 1.10-3. Rhizobium inoculant types for leguminous species to obtain nitrogen fixation.
- Table 1.10-4. Seeding rate and aboveground biomass production of cover crops broadcast into standing soybean crop at time of first leaf drop (Lancaster County 1999–2001.
- Table 1.10-5. Effects of termination technique of rye cover crop on corn yields (five-year averages, Virginia).
- Table 1.10-6. Characteristics of common cover crops.
Figures
- Figure 1.10-1. Dry matter production depends on cover crop and time it is killed (from Clark, A. J., Decker, A. M., Meisinger, J. J., and McIntosh, M. S., 1997. Kill date of vetch, rye, and vetch-rye mixture: I. Cover crop and corn nitrogen. Agronomy Journal 89:427-434.
- Figure 1.10-2. C/N ratio depends on crop type as well as time crop is killed (from Clark, A. J., Decker, A. M., Meisinger, J. J., and McIntosh, M. S., 1997. Kill date of vetch, rye, and vetch-rye mixture: I. Cover crop and corn nitrogen. Agronomy Journal 89:427-434.
- Figure 1.10-3. Effect of ease of decomposition of cover crop biomass on soil aggregation.
S. W. Duiker, associate professor of soil management, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences



