Cover Crops

A cover crop is primarily grown to protect and improve soil health but also provides other ecological, agronomic, and economic benefits. Cover crops are usually planted in the fall and terminated in the spring before planting cash crops.

What is a cover crop?

Cover crops are plant species, or mixtures of species, that provide seasonal vegetative cover for crop fields.

Do you notice any of these issues on your farm?

• Soil erosion
• Weeds
• Low organic matter
• Poor soil structure
• Increasing fertilizer costs

Cover crops have many benefits

• Improve soil organic matter
• Improve soil structure
• Suppress weeds
• Reduce erosion and nutrient loss from runoff
• Fix nitrogen when growing legumes
• Provide supplemental forage

Common cover crop options

• Small grains—rye, oats, wheat, barley, triticale
• Clovers
• Buckwheat
• Mixes of legumes and grasses
• Tillage radish

Other practices are associated with cover crops

Cover crops are often part of a comprehensive agronomic system involving several conservation practices. Some commonly associated practices include:

• Conservation crop rotation
• No till/reduced till residue and tillage management
• Nutrient management
• Integrated pest management

What management is necessary?

Cover crops are typically planted in the fall and terminated in the spring. However, there are various management options based on crop rotation, available equipment, and seasonal conditions. Cover crops can be broadcast and incorporated using light tillage or drilled into the soil. Depending on what species of cover crop is used, termination in the spring could be chemical or mechanical. Some cover crop species will winter-kill, allowing for no-till seeding or conventional tillage to incorporate residue before spring planting.

Interested in trying cover crops?

Costs associated with cover cropping are eligible for funding in Pennsylvania through several conservation programs administered by the State Conservation Commission (SCC) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Additionally, several funds may be available through organizations such as county conservation districts or local non-governmental organizations.

For more information, reach out to staff at the Penn State Extension's Center for Conservation and Technical Assistance Training (CACAT) or find your local conservation district office.

Prepared by Erin Trouba, ag conservation educator, Center for Agricultural Conservation Assistance Training