An essential part of organic farming is the use of cover crops. These are special crops specifically to benefit the soil. As the name implies, cover crops are grown to cover and protect the soil from erosion. Another important use of cover crops, or green manure crops, as they are often called.
Organic matter is the lifeblood of the soil.
Cover crops provide plant nutrients. Legumes such as clover, alfalfa, and beans fix nitrogen from the air into nitrates which can be used by the plants. Deep rooted cover crops such as alfalfa. One can divide cover crops into o 4 groups according to when they are planted and how long they grow. Winter rye, wheat and hairy vetch are planted in the fall after the row crops are harvested.