cover crop
Field's off-season planting
A cover crop is a plant grown not for harvest but to protect and improve soil between growing seasons.
Cover crops prevent erosion, suppress weeds, and add nutrients—clover and rye are common choices.
We planted a cover crop of winter wheat after the corn harvest.
The practice is central to sustainable agriculture.
Three-leafed legume plant
- vetchLeguminous climbing herb
- ryeHardy cereal crop
- buckwheatTriangular-seeded pseudocereal
- radishPeppery edible root
oats · barley · alfalfa · peas · crimson clover · winter wheat · mustard · cowpeas
Simultaneous multi-crop cultivation
- no-tillUndisturbed-soil cultivation
- mulchingCovering soil protectively
- green manurePlants tilled into soil
- terminationAct of ending something
broadcasting · drilling · incorporation · winter-kill · overseeding · living mulch · establishment · grazing
Converting inert gas to ammonia
- organic matterMaterial from living sources
- soil structureArrangement of earth particles
- erosion controlPreventing soil loss
- soil healthGround's biological vitality
humus · water retention · earthworms · mineralization · soil amendment · infiltration · aeration
Organism's natural environment
- pollinatorsOrganisms transferring reproductive dust
- biodiversityRange of life forms
- pest managementControlling harmful organisms
- beneficial insectsArthropods aiding agriculture
water cycle · carbon sequestration · microclimate · biocontrol · ground beetles · natural enemies · wildlife corridor
Cultivation without synthetic chemicals
- agroecologyEcological approach to farming
- conservation tillageMinimal soil disruption agriculture
- climate resilienceAbility to withstand environmental shifts
- soil conservationProtecting earth's fertile layer
water quality · sustainable agriculture · environmental stewardship · chemical-free
clover
Three-leafed legume plant
radish · oats · barley · alfalfa · peas · crimson clover · winter wheat · mustard · cowpeas · field peas
intercropping
Simultaneous multi-crop cultivation
- no-tillUndisturbed-soil cultivation
- mulchingCovering soil protectively
- green manurePlants tilled into soil
termination · broadcasting · drilling · incorporation · winter-kill · overseeding · living mulch · establishment · grazing · spring planting
nitrogen fixation
Converting inert gas to ammonia
- organic matterMaterial from living sources
- soil structureArrangement of earth particles
- erosion controlPreventing soil loss
soil health · humus · water retention · earthworms · mineralization · soil amendment · infiltration · aeration
habitat
Organism's natural environment
- pollinatorsOrganisms transferring reproductive dust
- biodiversityRange of life forms
- pest managementControlling harmful organisms
beneficial insects · water cycle · carbon sequestration · microclimate · biocontrol · ground beetles · natural enemies · wildlife corridor
organic farming
Cultivation without synthetic chemicals
- agroecologyEcological approach to farming
- conservation tillageMinimal soil disruption agriculture
- climate resilienceAbility to withstand environmental shifts
soil conservation · water quality · sustainable agriculture · environmental stewardship · chemical-free
- bird huntingduck hunting, goose hunting, pheasant hunting, quail hunting, shotguns
- beneficial organismsbees, earthworms, ladybugs, probiotics, yeast
- viticultureviticulture, grapevines, vine, grape, grapes
- farmingfarm, farms, farmer, farmers, harvest
- gardenbed, seeds, bloom, blossom, compost
- grain farmingwheat, wheat field, wheat fields, wheat farming, corn