Benefits of Catch & Cover Crops
- Mid & Higher Tier Option, Sustainable Farming Initiative
- SW5 Enhanced Management of maize crops
- SW6 Winter Cover Crops
- Regenerative and sustainable agriculture is actively changing the way farms increase biodiversity, enrich soils, improve watersheds, and enhance the health of livestock and wildlife whilst also improving the long term profitability of agricultural enterprises.
Organic Matter
Up to 5% of the soil’s organic matter is used by crops each year, which has led to some soils on arable farms becoming severely deficient. Incorporating fresh organic matter improves soil structure, mineral composition and beneficial microbial activity. It also aids soil aeration and locks in nitrogen making it available to following crops.
Weed Control
Cover crop species control weeds through light and nutrient deprivation. Faster growing brassica species and phacelia are most effective.
Nitrogen
Additional nitrogen can be made available for cash crops by fixing nitrogen from the atmosphere or preventing nitrogen leaching from the soil. Legumes fix nitrogen from the atmosphere making it available to the following crops. Quick growing species such as crimson clover and berseem clover are best for short breaks between cash crops, whereas vetches are more effective for a longer growing period. It is important to note that legumes become most effective at fixing nitrogen when the soil temperature is over 8°C.
Leaching Prevention
Nitrogen and other nutrients are lost through leaching when soil is left bare for any period of time, particularly over the winter when rainfall is high. Scavenging this nitrogen from the soil and holding it for the following crop is often easier and more effective than attempting to fix additional nitrogen from the atmosphere. It can be done effectively with cereals and mustard.
