Summary

Cover crops are living ground covers that protect soil from erosion and provide added benefits like weed suppression, nutrient recycling, water conservation, and support for beneficial insects and microbes. This guide explains different uses such as green manures, living mulches, residue mulches, catch crops, and forages. It highlights how legumes add nitrogen, how residues improve soil structure and tilth, and how cover crops can reduce pesticide and fertilizer needs. Also covers practical management, including choosing species, establishing stands, and killing cover crops in organic systems using mowing, rolling, or tillage.