Cover Cropping:101
Sustainability Through Innovation
Through the sustainable agriculture movement, a certain set of ideas has taken form from questions frequently asked by farmers. How can I restore nutrients to my soil naturally? And can weeds be managed another way without having to spend hours pulling them? The answer has been found in a brilliant, yet simple solution. And although it may seem fairly self-explanatory, cover cropping offers a lot more than what meets the eye.
What is Cover Cropping?
A cover crop is planted between harvest and replanting of primary crops. It’s grown specifically to cover the ground, not for food or monetary purposes. But what’s more, is all the things cover cropping can accomplish. Because the ground isn’t lying empty and dormant between growing seasons, weeds don’t have as much space to take over if the land is already occupied with plant life. And because you’re growing another species you’re adding to the biodiversity of your farm or garden, without having to worry about whether the crops you’re adding will return revenue. And don’t worry about cover cropping having a massive overhead, because it’s common to just spread the seeds after harvest and watch as they grow. Because of this, you won’t have to worry about extra labor or watering.
What Can Cover Cropping Do for My Soil?
Like many growers in agriculture, you may be worried about your soil. But here’s the great thing about cover cropping, you can use cover crops to restore much-needed nutrients that your other crops may be depleting. The two main cover crops used are legumes and non-legumes. And they each help to accomplish different things. Legume cover crops, such as red clover, crimson clover, peas, and beans, can help use up excess nitrogen in your soil. Non-legumes, like wheat, barley, oats, ryegrasses, buckwheat, and mustards, are great for replacing nutrients lost when growing your primary crops season after season. But one of the many great uses of cover cropping is erosion control. Picture this, an empty field during heavy rainfall. All that amazing topsoil is just being swept away by the oncoming rain! Cover cropping keeps those roots holding that topsoil in place, and helps keep the moisture where it’s needed most, instead of just flowing by.
When Should I Use a Cover Crop?
When cover cropping, there are a few options to choose from. Cover cropping is usually used to fill a window between planting cycles, so let’s talk about what window you may have open. Winter cover cropping is used mainly to salvage nitrogen depletion, and to stifle water erosion. Summer cover cropping is great for breaking up compacted soil. But what if your window is a smaller one? Don’t worry! You can use cover crops even in between growth cycles if you live somewhere with a long growing season. They’ll do the work for you restoring much-needed nutrients to your soil. Do you have a longer window that needs to be filled? A year-long cover cropping cycle will improve your soil health while suppressing weeds.
What Do I Do with My Cover Crop Now That I Need to Replant?
So now that you’re thinking of adding cover cropping to your homestead, here are some options. In sustainable farming practices, they return that organic plant material right back to the soil. One great method is chop and drop, just chop the cover crop and drop it right on top of the soil you’ve cleared. If you typically till the ground before you plant, you can just mix it right in. All the amazing microorganisms that have been seeking refuge in your soil and around those crops' roots will do the hard lifting and assist in decomposition, leaving you with some super hearty and nutrient-rich soil.
The Benefits of Biodiversity
The soil on your land is a living, thriving ecosystem. Cover cropping helps to keep it that way. When you leave that land empty, those microorganisms lack their food supply, so they either die or move on to greener pastures, quite literally. All the bugs that make their homes amongst those plants won’t stay either. And I’m not talking about pests here, these bugs help your soil and plants, not destroy them. A well-balanced ecosystem is made up of so many different species, take one away, and they all suffer. So when your land lies dormant, you’re more likely to end up with things you don’t want, like weeds and erosion, than things you do, like nutrients and moisture.
How Do I Add Cover Crops to My Homestead?
When working on building your holding into a more sustainable operation, my best advice as always, is to take a look at what you’ve got and set some goals for what you need. Things are hectic when trying to maintain everything you’re cultivating in agriculture, so it helps to have a solid game plan. Trial and error is inevitable, but it will help you feel less overwhelmed if you’ve created a guide for your farming end game. What plants are you currently growing? What fields are open at what times of the year? And what nutrients would you like to see added back to your soil? Next, I would suggest drawing up or using your computer to make a map of your holding in its entirety. This will help so much. Save your hard copy, you’ll need it for later if you need to make adjustments.
Four Roots Fight for Food Security
Like everything in sustainable agriculture, it’s about more than just us. It’s about the health of our land, soil, animals, and plant life, as well as maintaining that livelihood for future generations. We want to help with the process as much as possible, so Four Roots offers a wealth of resources and information to help you start your sustainable journey. Because the road ahead may not be easy, but it’s worth traveling.
