Some producers are trying to work cover crops into their no-till system. Where residue cover is consistently high, cover crops may simply not be necessary.
Cover crops can help to make a no-till vegetable system work.
Vegetables are tricky but not impossible to work into no-till crop rotations. It could take up to three weeks for the cereal cover crop to die. Meanwhile, it has successfully protected the young tomato or potato plants from blowing soils, and won't require a separate application later in the spring. Spring cereals used as cover crops can add to the soil protection potential of low-residue crops. Some cover crops can become a weed-management problem if not properly killed.