Farmers and agronomists know cover crops help hold soil and nutrients in place, but new research helps show just how much certain cover crops help.
Dr. John Jones with the University of Wisconsin says researchers conducted simulated rainfall experiments on cover crops at two research farms and found one particular cover crop helped control both soluble phosphorus and particulate-bound phosphorus. “The rye cover crop was able to germinate and establish a more consistent cover early on compared to Ladino clover and so the benefits within 38 days of establishment are much higher within the rye cover crop for reducing sediment and phosphorus loss.”
Jones tells Brownfield the benefits of cover crops are both above and below ground.
