The information comes from research and demonstrations conducted at Michigan State University and on farms throughout Michigan. Maintaining ground cover through fall winter and early spring drastically reduces soil loss. They reduce soil compaction while increasing water percolation and retention. Cover crops help soils maintain a higher organic matter level than continuous row cropping without cover. They also improve soil aggregation, infiltration and bulk density .
Cereal rye produces allelochemicals which suppress weeds.
Unfortunately, cover crops can also become weeds. They have increased Tricfiograma wasp survival for European corn borer control in seed corn. MSU researchers are investigating using cover crops for biological control programs, however, very little information is currently available. There are many other uses for cover crops which will be discovered as we increase their use. In conventional tillage systems, cover crops can be killed by moldboard plowing or deep disking.