Cover Crops and Biological Farming
In this excerpt from “Advancing Biological Farming,” Gary Zimmer discusses the critical importance of cover crops in a biological farming system.
Cover Crops: The Foundation of Organic No-Till
In this excerpt from his book “Roller/Crimper No-Till,” Jeff Moyer discusses the benefits of cover crops in a no-till system.
Vetch Cover Crops Benefit Organic Zucchini Growth
“Our results showed that zucchini yield was influenced positively by the vetch residue management strategy, although the response was significantly different between years,” the scientists said. “The vetch cover crop increased marketable zucchini yield in the first year by 46.6 percent compared with the fallow treatment, indicating that this fertility-building crop could reduce off-farm nitrogen (N) fertilizer input for subsequent crops.
Cover Crops for Pest Management
The sunflowers attract stinkbugs, specifically the leaf-footed bug, which aggressively attacks tomatoes and peppers. The sunflower is acting as a trap crop, keeping the pest away from the farm’s cash crop. In addition, buckwheat attracts a wide array of beneficial insects, including native pollinators.
Cover Crops on the Farm
Cover crops are increasingly being used by farmers across the country to suppress weeds, conserve soil, protect water quality and control pests and diseases.
