Cover Crops and Conservation Tillage
for Soil Erosion Control on Cropland
Added organic matter - Benefits of Cover Crops
Cover crops as well as manure or crop residues, add organic matter to the soil which increases soil tilth and productivity. At one time, prairie soils of the corn belt contained 8-10% organic matter. After 100 years of crop production, the average organic matter content is now less than 6%. The average organic matter content of most agricultural soils is even lower so any increase in organic matter will benefit these soils even more. In no-till crop production, the organic matter becomes concentrated at the soil surface which greatly improves soil tilth right at the surface.