Cover Crops and Ecosystem Services: Insights from Studies in Temperate Soils

Abstract

Cover crops (CCs) can provide multiple soil, agricultural production, and environmental benefits. However, a better understanding of such potential ecosystem services is needed. We summarized the current state of knowledge of CC effects on soil C stocks, soil erosion, physical properties, soil water, nutrients, microbial properties, weed control, crop yields, expanded uses, and economics and highlighted research needs. Our review indicates that CCs are multifunctional. Cover crops increase soil organic C stocks (0.1–1 Mg ha−1 yr−1) with the magnitude depending on biomass amount, years in CCs, and initial soil C level. Runoff loss can decrease by up to 80% and sediment loss from 40 to 96% with CCs. Wind erosion potential also decreases with CCs, but studies are few. Cover crops alleviate soil compaction, improve soil structural and hydraulic properties, moderate soil temperature, improve microbial properties, recycle nutrients, and suppress weeds. Cover crops increase or have no effect on crop yields but reduce yields in water‐limited regions by reducing available water for the subsequent crops. The few available studies indicate that grazing and haying of CCs do not adversely affect soil and crop production, which suggests that CC biomass removal for livestock or biofuel production can be another benefit from CCs. Overall, CCs provide numerous ecosystem services (i.e., soil, crop–livestock systems, and environment), although the magnitude of benefits is highly site specific. More research data are needed on the (i) multi‐functionality of CCs for different climates and management scenarios and (ii) short‐ and long‐term economic return from CCs.

Management of service crops for the provision of ecosystem services in vineyards: A review

“…As a consequence, trafficability in vineyards may be improved. Depending on the grass species and the structure of their root systems, service crops could restore compacted soil (Blanco-Canqui et al, 2015).…”

“…(Ovalle et al, 2007) reported an increase in P and K levels in the soil, for vineyard intercropped with subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.), burr medic (Medicago polymorpha L.) and balansa clover (Trifolium michelianum Savi) after two years of intercropping. However, Blanco-Canqui et al (2015) reported that service crops could sometimes decrease available soil P by uptake and conversion into organic form.…”

Can Cover Crop Use Allow Increased Levels of Corn Residue Removal for Biofuel in Irrigated and Rainfed Systems?

“…The loss of silage yield with CC use was particularly evident in drought years, and averaged across years, use of rye CC reduced silage yield [14]. Studies using CC showed that water use by the CC may impact yield in some years [8,39]. Late-terminated CC may only have negative effects on grain yield in years with rainfall below average during corn establishment (Table 1).…”

Harvesting Fertilized Rye Cover Crop: Simulated Revenue, Net Energy, and Drainage Nitrogen Loss

“…Harvesting or grazing cover crops can also provide ecosystem services, thus enhancing the multifunctionality of the system (Blanco-Canqui et al, 2015). Shao et al (2015) showed that fertilizing and harvesting winter rye can increase feedstock supplies and producer revenue compared with unfertilized rye, but N losses to subsurface drainage and net energy potential of the system were not investigated.…”