Cover crops and their benefits to specific following crops

This comprehensive guide examines how different legume cover crops (LCCs) influence the performance of various subsequent cash crops, including winter and spring cereals, vegetables, and other legumes19191919. It categorizes LCCs into winter annuals, perennials, biennials, and summer annuals, providing specific sowing rates and management characteristics for species like hairy vetch, crimson clover, and alfalfa20202020. The paper notes that LCCs can increase subsequent crop yields by 4–8% and sequester approximately $0.3\text{--}1~\text{t}~\text{C}~\text{ha}^{-1}~\text{year}^{-1}$.

Beyond yield, the paper provides practical implementation guidelines for termination techniques - such as roller-crimping or green manuring - and integrated nutrient management. It details specific benefits for different sequences, such as using squarrose clover to boost tomato productivity or hairy vetch to provide up to 100 kg N/ha for maize. The authors emphasize that while LCCs require careful planning to avoid competition for water or rotational conflicts, they are a versatile tool for enhancing soil fertility and reducing chemical input dependency.