Researchers say cover crops are planted to improve soil quality, enhance nitrogen management, provide erosion control, and suppress weeds, insects, and nematodes. Cover crops can enhance nitrogen production and can also reduce nutrient losses. Grass can be used to take up excess nitrogen and help alleviate groundwater leaching. Cover crops can be used to reduce wind and water erosion. Maintaining ground covers through fall, winter, and early spring drastically reduces soil loss.
Soil texture affects both nutrient availability and water management.
It also affects how much herbicide the soil will hold. All soils contain amounts of sand, silt, and clay particles. Soil texture is determined by the relative amounts of these three types of particles. Cover crops provide organic matter to the soil system. They stimulate biosystems, microbial, and macro-organism activity.