Autumn cover crops for soil protection and nutrient retention
Autumn cover crops with cereal mixes of barley and rye reduce soil erosion and nutrient leaching in Northern Italy when sown early and enhanced with white mustard or legumes.
or
Detail description
Soil conservation using autumn cover crops prevents erosion and nutrient leaching after maize, soybean, and sunflower harvests. Effective species include barley, rye, white mustard, vetch, and faba beans. Early sowing (late August–early September) enhances benefits, especially with legumes. Direct sowing and reduced spring tillage preserve root systems. On-farm cereal mixes show best results. Part of the OK-Net Arable project, supporting sustainable arable farming in Europe. Published 2018 by AIAB, Rome, Italy.
Contribution detail info
- Project
- Location
- Italy
- Authors
- Stefano Bortolussi
- Purpose
- Other, Apply ready-to-use practices
- File type
- document
- Created on
- Mar 20, 2026
- Origin language
- English
- Official project website
- OK-Net Arable
- License
- Other
- Keywords
- Themes