- Land surface is densely covered with permanent grasses or leguminous plat species to reduce erosion and improve degraded soils
Functions of cover crops
- Protects surface from raindrops erosion by providing ground cover
- Armors and reinforces the slope
- Reduces the runoff velocity
- Catches soil materials or debris
- Improves soil fertility (OM, physical, chemical and biological activities) are improved.
- Forage/grass available fro the livestock
- Improves soil moisture
- Suppresses weeds
Species for cover crops
- Stylo
- Dubo
- Napier
- Babiyo
- Clover
Design of cover cropping
- Plant to plant space = 30cm
- Row to row space = 20cm
- 2-3 tillers of grasses per planting for successful establishment
