The importance and role of cover crops in sustainable agriculture

With the recent trends in plant production such as sustainable agriculture and organic farming, cover crops have become more important and practically a non missing link in crop rotation. With the growing of cover crops, the application of chemicals (mineral fertilizers and pesticides) is either reduced or completely omitted. Therefore, the main aim of cover crops growing is the protection of agroecological systems. Cover crops are used to design new strategies that preserve farm natural resources while remaining profitable. The key to this approach is to view the farm as an agro-ecosystem representing a dynamic relationship of the mineral biological, weather and human resources involved in producing crops or livestock. From that point of view, agricultural practices should be environmentally sound, economically feasible and socially acceptable. Cover crops are grown either as a pure crop or as a plant mixture between two cash crops. According to sowing time, cover crops are sown as winter cash crops. The main benefits of cover crops are: reduced fertilizer costs, conservation of soil moisture, reduction in nutrient leaching, improvement of soil properties. reduction in the need for pesticide application, prevention of soil erosion, water quality protection and safeguarding of human health. Benefits vary by location and season but at least two or three occur with any cover crop.