CSANR > Publications Library Archive > Crops > Cover Cropping

Cover Cropping

Cover crops are receiving renewed interest, but remain underutilized in contemporary U.S. agriculture.  Cover crops can help conserve nutrients, control soil erosion, improve water infiltration and quality, reduce weed and pest pressure, increase biodiversity, and enhance soil health.  Many plants can be used as cover crops, including rye, clover, sudangrass, mustard, buckwheat, and lupine.  They can be grown between cash crops when soil would normally be bare, or integrated into cash crops through relay planting or intercropping.  There is considerable information on cover crops from prior to the 1950s that is applicable today.  In addition, current research and experience with cover crops is opening opportunity for new ideas such as direct seeding grains into cover crops and cover crops for bioremediation of soil-borne diseases.

Featured Publications

Washington Soil Health Initiative Roadmap

Hills, K. & C. Benedict (Eds.) 2021. Washington Soil Health Initiative Roadmap. Washington State University, Pullman WA. October 2021. https://soilhealth.wsu.edu/washington-state-soil-health-roadmap/ ↑ Back to top

Farmer-to-Farmer & Rancher-to-Rancher Case Studies Series

Authors include: Yorgey, G., Borrelli, K., Painter, K., Davis, H., Hall, S., Hudson, T., Neibergs, S., Reeves, M., Kruger, C., McGuire A., Finkelnburg, D., Roe, D., Brooks, E., and Kantor, S. 2016-2019. PNW Extension Publications and videos. These series explore strategies that innovative regional farmers and ranchers are using that enhance resilience to climate change and […]

Video: Reduced tillage in organic vegetable production

Sullivan D. and D.P. Collins. 2018. WSU Extension Video. This video is intended for organic vegetable producers and agricultural professionals, especially in the maritime northwest. Techniques and findings from recent research are shared to assist producers in trialing reduced tillage systems. The video covers the concept of reduced tillage organic agriculture, cover crop and weed management, […]

Rotational Diversification and Intensification (PDF)

Kirby, E., W. Pan, D. Huggins, K. Painter, P. Bista. 2017. Chapter 5 In Yorgey, G. and C. Kruger, eds. Advances in Dryland Production Systems in the Pacific Northwest. Washington State University Extension, Pullman, WA. ↑ Back to top

Reduced Tillage on Organic Farms Virtual Field Day

WSU researchers and extension educators are researching different methods for reducing tillage in organic vegetable production. This video demonstrates termination of barley and vetch cover crops with a roller/crimper and flail mower. ↑ Back to top

Mustard Green Manures

On-farm research has been conducted since 1999 to determine the benefits of mustard green manures and to improve their effectiveness. They are being used in irrigated regions of Eastern Washington to improve soil quality, control wind erosion, and manage soilborne pests. ↑ Back to top

Additional Publications

Unlocking the Biofuel Power of Cover Crops in Washington State: Enhancing Potential Through Hydrothermal Liquefaction. Biomass and Bioenergy

Santosa, D. M., Potter, T., Pierobon, F., Göreke, D., Meyer, P. A., Kruger, C. E., Norberg, S., Collins, D., & Male, J. (2025). Unlocking the biofuel power of cover crop in Washington State: Enhancing potential through hydrothermal liquefaction. Biomass and Bioenergy, 203, 108311.  Study explores whether Washington cover crops can serve as profitable, low-carbon feedstocks […]

Browse all Cover Cropping Publications

External Links

Some WSU Extension websites provide links to external sites for the convenience of users. These external sites are not managed by WSU Extension. Furthermore, WSU Extension does not review, control or take responsibility for the content of these sites, nor do these sites implicitly or explicitly represent official positions and policies of WSU Extension.