Cover crop decision support tools

Benefits of cover crops for sustainable soil management are documented in this book and the scientific literature (Abdalla et al., 2019; Clark, 2008; Plastina et al., 2020). Cover crops do, however, increase the management complexity of agroecosystems (Bowman et al., 2022; Dunn et al., 2016; Myers and Watts, 2015; Plastina et al., 2020). Cover crops interact with pests (i.e. weeds, insects), diseases, and nutrient cycles in a myriad of ways and can negatively impact cash crop growth and yield if not managed appropriately (Abdalla et al., 2019; Bourgeois et al., 2022; Qin et al., 2021). Management requires resources, including time, money, and an understanding of the field dynamics involved. Farmers need information that is accurate, reliable, dependable, and specific to their farm/environment to help them make decisions and build knowledge. However, that information must be packaged in a streamlined format that is easy to digest and implement.