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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Booneville, Arkansas » Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #427971
Research Project: Innovations for Small Farms Pasture and Silvopasture

Location: Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center

Title: Use of cover crops for sustainable of soil condition and health: A review

Author
item CERCIOGLU, MELIS - Ege Forestry Research Institute
item UDAWATTA, RANJITH - University Of Missouri
item ANDERSON, STEPHEN - University Of Missouri

Submitted to: Soil Security
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/9/2025
Publication Date: 1/9/2025
Citation: Cercioglu, M., Udawatta, R.P., Anderson, S.H. 2025. Use of cover crops for sustainable of soil condition and health: A review. Soil Security. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soisec.2025.100177.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soisec.2025.100177

Interpretive Summary: Cover crops (CCs) are widely recognized for their numerous benefits to soil condition and health, the environment, and agricultural productivity. We have collected publications on soil health benefits of cover crops, compiled the data and developed a review paper as extensive literature documenting these benefits is lacking. The findings revealed that cover crops reduce soil bulk density, increase organic matter, enhance macropores, and increase water infiltration rates. Overall, cover crops were found to improve major soil parameters that can help improve land productivity and water quality - thereby contributing to sustainable crop production across a range of climatic, soil, and management conditions.

Technical Abstract: Cover crops (CCs) are widely recognized for their numerous benefits to soil condition and health, the environment, and agricultural productivity. Despite extensive literature documenting these benefits, there is a lack of comprehensive reviews that consolidate the findings, hindering the broader adoption of effective practices. This review examines the impact of cover crops on key soil properties, including bulk density (BD), saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat), organic matter (OM) content, pore size distribution, and water infiltration. A total of 190 studies from various countries, climatic zones, and agricultural practices were analysed, with the majority of data originating from 2–3-year studies conducted in the USA. The findings reveal that cover crops reduce soil bulk density by 1–24 %, increase organic matter by 7–74 %, enhance macropores by 1–67 %, and improve water infiltration rates by 5–629 %. Additionally, cumulative infiltration rates increased by 29–170 %, and Ksat was elevated by 10–627 %. Long-term studies (spanning 15 to 34 years) indicated even greater improvements in Ksat and soil porosity. Overall, cover crops were found to enhance soil organic matter, hydraulic properties, and overall soil condition, thereby contributing to sustainable crop production across a range of climatic, soil, and management conditions. Long-term research is necessary to better understand the impact of cover crops on soil properties, nutrient availability, crop performance, and environmental outcomes, which will inform the development of optimal soil-site-climate specific cover crop management practices.