subject: Cover Crop Farming - Do It Professionally To Reap The Benefits [print this page] Cover Crop Farming - Do It Professionally To Reap The Benefits
As the consumption of agricultural produce is increasing worldwide, scientists are busy in inventing new farming techniques to match the increased demand. Technology has advanced the agricultural equipments that have made the farming convenient and less costly. The other approach in this direction is to do the farming in new style. Cover crop farming is one such new method. Although it is a centuries old practice but recent discoveries has made it more popular and socially acceptable. Many farmers are using this practice but are not aware about its specific benefits. Till the farmers are not aware about the right way of doing it, they can't get proven benefits in real sense.
Researchers and farmers all around the world have observed increased insect numbers because of using cover crop in between the main crops. Cover crops also known as green manures provide pollen and nectar. Most of green manure crops are of Fabaceae (pea) family and nicknamed as Leguminous. These provide rich dose of nitrogen to the soil. These also create enough space for much desired insects' growth. With the next main crop, benefits come into the pocket of farmers in the form of increased yields. The main crops sowed after cover crop needs less fertilizer. Some farmers interplant cover crop along with main crop as a result they get the cash crop at mush less cost. To get much acclaimed benefits of gap crop, farmers need to plant it at due time. The planting season of one crop varies from one place to other because weather also plays important role in returns of cover crop farming.
Researchers recommend rotation of cover crop. Soybean, corn, rye and living mulch are popular cover crops. Cover crop provides protective cover during fall, winter or excessive summer season. Rye crop supports water-conservation. Hairy vetch can replace soybeans. Winter cover crop is planted by aerial seeding in the standing cash crops during fall. Non-legumes like sudan grass, forage sorghum, buckwheat and millet are grown to get biomass and smother weeds. Living mulches are used with Christmas trees, windbreaks and berries etc to provide traction as well as to control the erosion.
