article thumbnail

The Dirt on Cover Crops

Modern Farmer

As with many eco initiatives, what was old is new again: Cover crops (or fallow season plantings; see more below) were first used during the Roman Empire as a way to boost the soil quality in vineyards. Cover cropping is a means of increasing soil fertility without chemicals. How do cover crops work?

Crop 119
article thumbnail

Regenerative Gardening, No-Till Winter Cover Crop Strategies

UnderstandingAg

Identifying Opportunities and Planning Successful cover cropping starts with a strong crop plan and requires additional planning around cash-crop termination and no-till seeding methods. Below are some alternative strategies for seeding no-till cover crops at garden scale. tomatoes, corn, pumpkins, or peas).

Crop 89
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Living Mulch Cover Cropping for Gardens and Small Farms: Managing an “organic matter” system

ATTRA

They are documenting Lincoln’s living cover crop system, where he undersows Dutch white clover into vegetables after the last cultivation in July. He found that undersowing the clover was an amazing way to get the field covered by harvest. But what if you leave the white clover cover crop to continue growing in the second year?

Crop 102
article thumbnail

A Satellite Image Exposes the ‘Bare Facts’ About Conventional Ag

UnderstandingAg

EVERY square inch of all those "brown areas" have been treated with various chemicals and fertilizers. Is it any wonder that our surface waters are filled with sediment, and fertilizer, and chemicals? Is it any wonder that our surface waters are filled with sediment, and fertilizer, and chemicals?

article thumbnail

High Tunnel Soil Management for Season Extension

ATTRA

By Chris Lent, NCAT Agriculture Specialist When I began to see how unique the growing conditions in my high tunnel are compared to open-field growing, I started to think differently about how to maintain soil health and manage soil fertility for high tunnel growing and season extension. High tunnel kale crop for harvest through the fall.

Compost 52
article thumbnail

Regenerative Agriculture: A Strategic Approach for Farming

Cropaia

This means increased crop yields and reduced inputs like fertilizers and pesticides. Healthy soil can absorb and retain water more effectively, helping crops withstand droughts and floods. Healthy soil can absorb and retain water more effectively, helping crops withstand droughts and floods.

article thumbnail

Use These 3 Tips to Improve Soil Nutrient Levels

Agriculture for Life

It’s no secret that keeping soil ripe with fertile nutrients – such as nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, requires effort and care. However, soil nutrients are often quickly depleted due to natural elements, poor farming practices, and inappropriate fertilizer product selections.