Cover crops provide multi services but reduce water drainage

Picture copyright Lachaussee, Inra

Cover crops provide many different ecosystem services, increasing soil carbon storage and mineral nutrient recycling while reducing runoff and water pollution by nitrate. Scientists Meyer et al. recently showed that cover crops also reduce water drainage. Drainage reduction may represent a disservice due to its impact on the groundwater recharge. This is an important issue, particularly in a dry climate with shallow groundwater.

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