Cover Crops: Planting the Way to Nitrogen Management at the Watershed Scale in a Combined Conservation Approach

Kosciusko County Soil and Water Conservation District propose to implement Cover Crops across 50% of a sub-watershed in a tile-drained agricultural landscape in order to quantify and seek additional funding to implement another 25% of the watershed as well 1) the effect of cover crop planting on tile drain nutrient and sediment export, and how that is reflected in 2) stream nutrient and sediment export; 3) whether there is improved efficacy of an in-stream management practice (Two-Stage Ditch) when combined with a landscape management practice; and finally 4) to provide a regional demonstration area for farmers that highlights the benefits of combining multiple BMPs at the watershed scale.