The global increases in the surface and groundwater nitrate (NO3−) concentrations due to
synthetic fertilizer input have emerged as major sustainability threats to terrestrial and …

Improving soil physical properties is important to soil conservation. Cover cropping can
improve soil physical properties and organic matter content which can reduce soil loss, and …

Recent expansion of croplands in the United States has caused widespread conversion of
grasslands and other ecosystems with largely unknown consequences for agricultural …

Cover crops are known to promote many aspects of soil and water quality, yet estimates find
that in 2012 only 2.3% of the total agricultural lands in the Midwestern USA were using cover …

Cover crops are widely viewed by the soil and water conservation community to be an
effective means for reducing soil erosion and nutrient loss and increasing soil health, yet …

Core Ideas Cover crops increase time to runoff start and reduce runoff sediment loss. Grass
cover crops can be effective at reducing nutrient leaching. Cover crops may have limited …

There is evidence that cover crops can bring both environmental and yield benefits to a farm
operation, yet according to the USDA's Census of Agriculture, in 2012 less than 5% of the …

As pollinator decline continues, the need to provide high value forage for insects increases.
Finding agricultural crops to diversify the landscape and provide forage is one way to …

Cover crops can improve the sustainability and resilience of corn (Zea mays L.) and
soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) production systems. At present, the most widely used cover …

Winter rye (Secale cereale L.) cover crop (RCC) has potential to reduce NO3–N loss from
corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] fields. However, RCC effects on …