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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Laboratory for Agriculture and The Environment » Agroecosystems Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #425618
Research Project: Managing Nutrient, Carbon, and Water Fluxes to Provide Sustainable and Resilient Cropping Systems for Midwestern Landscapes

Location: Agroecosystems Management Research

Title: Cool season grass cover crops

Author
item BLANCO, H - University Of Nebraska
item Ruis, Sabrina
item KLOPP, H - South Dakota State University
item JAHLA, A - University Of Nebraska
item MCMECHAN, J - University Of Nebraska
item PROCTER, C - University Of Nebraska
item FERREIRA, V - University Of Nebraska

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/13/2025
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Grass cover crops, which include cereal rye, barley, wheat, oats, and annual ryegrass can be a useful tool to manage soil erosion, soil properties, nutrients, weeds, pests, and diseases. Grass cover crops can improve soil physical, chemical, and biological properties, which include water infiltration, soil aggregate stability, soil C, microbial biomass, and earthworm population. Such positive effects are linked with biomass C inputs from the cover crops and having a living plant during a greater portion of the year. High biomass producing grass cover crops can reduce soil erosion and improve nutrient cycling by reducing NO3 leaching and N2O fluxes. However, in most cases, grass cover crops have no effect on subsequent crop yield, and if there is a negative effect, it can sometimes be attributed to drought conditions during a key period of the cash crop growing period. Integrating grass cover crops into agricultural systems is not without challenges, which include a short growing window for winter cover crops. Interseeding cover crops into standing crops and terminating at or after cash crop planting can be options to boost biomass production. Despite the potential benefits, in some regions, cover crop adoption is low, with farmers often citing time and knowledge as barriers to adoption. Without equipment changes or clear management options that work most of the time, adoption is likely to remain low. Overall, grass cover crops have potential to provide soil and weed control benefits to agricultural systems.