Cover crops minimize top soil and OM loss from heavy rain
Though I was aware of benefit of cover crops in fields, after so many days of heavy rain I instinctively felt the real benefit and cover crop use. Our primary use of cover crops is to let the plants do the work. It's vague when we just talk about it. Of course we can list the benefit of using cover crops. - protect top soil - improve/maintain natural tilth - hold water - aerate soil - break up compaction - add OM - add nitrogen (legumes) - smother unwanted weeds, or at least control better - attract beneficial insects - stable habitat for pests and predators - reduce disease occurrence - buffer and harsh environmental impact The list goes on and it could be more specific to each type of cover crop used. In past several days I have realized that the benefits are much more than what's listed. Consider all the lost top soil, organic matter, soil structure, natural habitat. It's much harder to rebuild than to protect them. It takes many years to build ric