Defining Best Management Practices for Multi-Species Cover Crops in the Southeastern USA

Quantifiable impacts of multi-species Cover Crops need to be determined to promote rapid information transfer from county level demonstrations to producers throughout the mountains, piedmont and coastal plain areas of North Carolina. These demonstrations will broaden adoption of appropriate multi-species cover cropping and build soil health for a more sustainable agriculture across the Southeastern region. The project will quantify short term-changes in soil chemical, physical and biological properties as a result of using multi-species Cover Crops in various no-till and reduced till production systems across the three physiographic regions of the state. These short term changes in soil properties will be related to broader concerns for nutrient cycling, overcoming soil water limitations and improved crop yield and growth. Project results will include recommendations for refining best management practices for multi-species Cover Crops in production systems common to the Southeast.