Cover Crops – The better way to get the water in

Cover crops can increase the penetration of water into soils utilizing beneficial biomass and root systems that will hold soils and nutrients in place while also providing additional moisture storage for summer months.

Soil Surface SealingCover Crop Protection

Biomass & Infiltration

Cover crop biomass will increase infiltration through the prevention of soil surface sealing – when soil compacts through the impact of water droplets to form an impermeable crust.  Decreases in the number of water droplets allowed to impact, compact, and disrupt the soil aggregate with vegetative coverage will prevent soil surface sealing.  The soil will be able to maintain a structure of channels capable of conducting water to lower layers efficiently and store the moisture for later usage during summer months.

Roots & Infiltration

Water infiltration channels are pioneered by the root systems of cover crops to increase soil aggregate stability, porosity, and storage capacity.  Liquids will always follow the path of least resistance, and channels left by the burrowing of both roots and earthworms can serve as a highway for water to travel down to the lower soil depths.

Which Cover Crop Is Best?

Different cover crops can result in different effects on infiltration due to plant properties unique to the species.  Non-legume cover crops can increase water penetration between 8% and 462%.  Legume cover crops can increase soil penetration between 39% and 528%.

8% – 462% Infiltration
Broadleaf Products
8% – 462% Infiltration
39% – 528% Infiltration

By managing fields to maintain continuous ground coverage through the usage of residues and cover crops, soils will be able to maintain high levels of porosity and allow water to infiltrate to deeper layers.

No Cover Crops Planted

Cover Crops Planted

No-Till Management & Infiltration

No-till management has been found to increase rainfall infiltration, and runoff reduction by two to four times the amount of conventionally tilled land.

Looking for more information on increasing infiltration in your soils?  Contact one of our Bio Till Cover Crop Experts today!

Cover Crop Experts