If a legume is planted that has not been grown before, the proper inoculant should be added when seeding. There are some drawbacks to using cover crops that farmers should be aware of. If the cover crop does not naturally winter-kill, then a farmer should have a method for killing the crop before it competes with the next cash crop. This can be done mechanically or by using herbicides. Cover crops can act as weeds if not controlled.
Timing is important when killing a spring growing cover crop.
Cover crops should be allowed to grow as long as possible in the spring to add additional nutrients to the soil and suppress weeds, but they can also use up soil moisture and hurt the following cash crop if dry conditions exist. More management time is required to determine how and when it would be best to control the cover crop. Hard seed that did not germinate may also require control later in the season. Like any other crop, moisture is needed to establish a cover crop. This is especially critical during July and August.