Guide Cover

A practical guide to soil and system improvement

Introduction

This NIAB TAG and Kellogg’s OriginsTM publication is a practical guide to the use of cover crops for soil and system improvement. It provides information on the selection and management of cover crop options. Cover crops can (among other things) help to increase resource use efficiency, improve system management/resilience, benefit environmental goals and increase yield/economic returns. OriginsTM farmers are working with NIAB TAG to translate research into practice and to quantify the delivery of key benefits.

The guide provides information based on current understanding on how to select, deploy, manage and make the most of specific cover crops against identified end uses. Guidance has been generated from a range of sources including research, grower feedback and other expert opinion. There may be a need to amend specific practices for individual farm situations.

It also serves to support and inform on-farm decision making and will be developed further in collaboration with field activities and feedback from the OriginsTM farmers.

The focus is primarily on the use of autumn sown cover crops used ahead of spring sown crops, but also features some aspects of cover crop use in wider scenarios. To use the document select the cover crop goal which best describes your objective; then use the decision guides to select an appropriate cover crop species or mix. The cover crop options are suggestions and further ingredients or particular agronomy and management inputs may be required to help tailor the selection to a particular circumstance on farm.

Download the guide below.

Related Organisations

Connected Content

Soil is an essential natural resource for all farmers. Over recent years many initiatives have sought to provide information and advice on soils and Soil Health, notably AHDB Great Soils. 

Regenerative farming looks to optimise the use of the ecological system and environment, in order to benefit from the natural ecosystem services that they provide.

Tell us how you are improving your soils. Share useful resources, organisations and initiatives.

The challenges of food security, climate change and sustainable development present exciting opportunities for agricultural research and innovation. The NIAB Group is the UK’s fastest growing crop science organisation, having trebled in size over the past decade through a strategic programme of investment, merger and acquisition.

Agroecology is a holistic and integrated approach that simultaneously applies ecological and social concepts and principles to the design and management of sustainable agriculture and food systems. Definition from FAO.

Share information, knowledge, resources and experience on how we can improve crop perfomance (yield, quality and profitability) whilst reducing reliance on input, reducing impacts and improving environmental performance.

Cover crops are grown primarily to ‘protect or improve’ soils between periods of regular crop production. They can be effective at improving soil functions by increasing soil nutrient and water retention, improving soil structure/quality, reducing the risk of soil erosion, surface run-off and diffuse pollution by providing soil cover and by managing weeds or soil-borne pests.