A growing cover crop will utilize and lower soil moisture. In a wet spring, this could be beneficial by drying out fields to more ideal levels for planting a cash crop sooner than if the field was fallow. However, in a dry spring with low soil moisture, a living cover crop can be challenging for growers looking to plant their next cash crop.

Soil Moisture Risk

Growing cover crops can reduce soil moisture to levels that may negatively impact cash crop establishment, early growth, and yield in low soil moisture and precipitation scenarios. Farmers must monitor current moisture levels and weather forecasts to determine if there will be enough water for the following cash crop.

Termination Timing

If growers are worried about this risk, a simple solution is to terminate the cover crop early to stop its water use and give the soil a chance to recharge. Terminating a cover crop at least two weeks before planting the following cash crop is recommended during dry conditions. However, farmers may decide to terminate even sooner if they are particularly concerned about soil moisture issues.

Post-Termination Soil Moisture

While a living cover crop can create a soil moisture risk, cover crop residue left on the soil surface can often improve moisture. The Water Quality and Quantity page discusses this benefit.

References

• Gatiboni, L., & Reberg-Horton, C. (2021). Winter Annual Cover Crops. NC State Extension