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Cover Crops for Sustainable Agriculture
Research Highlights
This site contains research on cover crops for sustainable agriculture developed or published by the Exploration of Cover Crops for Sustainable Agriculture, with support from IDRC's program initiatives MINGA (Alternative Approaches to Natural Resource Management in Latin America and the Caribbean), People, Land and Water (PLAW), and Community-based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) in cooperation with various other agencies. This site provides empirical evidence of the contribution of cover crops to sustainable agriculture. Research Highlights
Cover crops and green manuresH. David Thurston writes: "Considerable confusion occurs relative to the use of the terms cover crops and green manures, as they are used in different ways by different authors. The terms are often used interchangeably. Traditionally the term "green manures" has referred to plants which are turned under or incorporated into the soil while green, or soon after flowering, in order to enrich the soil. In recent years however, the term has been used more loosely, and green manure may sometimes refer to plants or plant vegetation which may be applied as a mulch to the soil, either slashed and fresh or after the plant has dried out.As long ago as 1927 Pieters, in his comprehensive treatment of green manures, stated that "Green manuring is the practice of enriching the soil by turning under undecomposed plant material (except crop residues) either in place or brought from a distance." He further stated "A cover crop is one planted for the purpose of covering and protecting the soil." The Soil Science Society of America (1987) defined green manure as plant material incorporated into the soil while green or at maturity, for soil improvement. Cover crops are any crops grown to produce soil cover, regardless of whether they are later incorporated. They are used to cover and protect the soil surface, although they may be turned under as green manures. Further, the term cover crop also refers to crops grown between orchard trees or on fields between cropping seasons to protect the land from leaching and erosion (Martin 1975). Diver and Sullivan (1992) wrote: 'Any field or forage crop grown to provide soil cover is a 'cover crop.' Since a crop grown as a cover crop may later be soil-incorporated as a green manure, the two practices are often referred to interchangeably.'" Source: H. David Thurston, http://ppathw3.cals.cornell.edu/mba_project/gmcc/home.html AcknowledgementsThe following organizations have provided financial and technical support for the research reported on this site.International Development Research Centre (IDRC) International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) The Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) Centro Internacional de Información Sobre Cultivos de Cobertura (CIDICCO) Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza (CATIE) and the English version Association of Advisors for a Sustainable, Ecological and Humane Agriculture (COSECHA) Online booksThe IDRC Focus Collection contains full-text, online books. By providing these texts online, IDRC aims to ensure that research findings are disseminated rapidly and efficiently, to achieve maximum impact from ongoing development research.Cover Crops in Hillside Agriculture: Farmer Innovation with Mucuna Cover Crops in West Africa: Contributing to Sustainable Agriculture Indigenous Strategies for Intensification of Shifting Cultivation in Southeast Asia Green Manure - Cover Crop Systems for Smallholders in Tropical and Subtropical Regions Photo archivesPlease have a look at photographs showing the use of cover crops by farmers in various regions.Key sourcesTo the World - the IDRC Library's comprehensive list of Internet sites relating to international development.Cornell International Institute for Food, Agriculture and Development (CIIFAD) The International Institute for Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) The Center for New Crops & Plant Products, at Purdue University Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy Global Food Security Resources Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA La'akea Permaculture Gardens, a twenty five acre permaculture demonstration farm, was established in 1991 on the island of Hawaii. Permaculture and Sustainable Agriculture Related Links The Agromisa Foundation is a Dutch NGO that aims to strengthen the socioeconomic position of the underprivileged rural population in developing countries. The Foundation actively promotes small-scale sustainable agriculture making optimal use of local resources. The World Sustainable Agriculture Association The
Sustainable Earth Electronic Library (SEEL) is a digital library devoted
to the collection of publications that educate people on ways to preserve
and restore our natural environment. Plants
and sustainable agriculture selections
International Ag-Sieve Newsletter International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Center for Cover Crops Information and Seed Exchange in Africa ContactDaniel BucklesProgram Officer IDRC PO Box 8500 Ottawa, ON Canada, K1G 3H9 Tel: (613) 236-6163 ext. 2358 E-mail: dbuckles@idrc.ca Resources | Research Programs | The Institution | CRDI en français |
