<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Figure 1: A schematic of different Integrated Weed Management options available in agriculture.\u00a0 Adapted by Jodie M. Reisner (image credit: www.integratedweedmanagement.org<\/a>)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Cover crops support many facets of row crop production and environmental protection.\u00a0 Modern agriculture has reduced diversity in agroecosystems.\u00a0 The environmental concerns of agriculture include soil erosion, water quality issues, depletion of soil fertility and soil organic matter, and excess use of agrochemicals.\u00a0 Growing cover crops in association with grain crops can improve the environmental footprint of agriculture.<\/p>\n Cover crops are grasses, legumes, and forbs planted solely or in mixes (Figure 2) for seasonal vegetative cover (USDA, 2016). Most annual cropping systems have 4-8 months of no crop growing following the harvest of the cash crop.\u00a0 With the mild winters in Texas, summer weeds have an advantage of germinating and producing seed well into the fall and posing continued challenges for producers.\u00a0 Producers can take advantage of the long growing periods, especially that of south Texas, to plant summer cover crops in addition to the winter covers and build biomass to suppress weeds.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/agrilife.org\/texasrowcrops\/files\/2021\/07\/1.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nRole of Cover Crops as an Integrated Weed Management Tool<\/h2>\n
\nAgricultural Resources<\/h2>\n<\/td>\nBenefits Offered by Cover Crops<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\nSoil \u2013 fundamental foundation for agricultural ecosystems<\/td>\n | Organic matter additions<\/p>\n | Minimizing soil erosion<\/p>\n Nutrient cycling<\/p>\n Fix atmospheric nitrogen and improve soil fertility<\/p>\n Excess nutrient capture and minimizing nutrient runoff<\/p>\n Enhancement of soil biodiversity<\/p>\n Improvement of overall soil health<\/p>\n Improving overall soil health<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Water \u2013 critical resource for agricultural production<\/td>\n | Increase water infiltration<\/p>\n | Decrease water run-off<\/p>\n Decrease water evaporation<\/p>\n Use excess water<\/p>\n Improve farmland hydrology through capture, use, respire<\/p>\n Protect water bodies from agrochemical and nutrient runoff<\/p>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Vegetation \u2013 economic, societal, and agronomic goal<\/td>\n | Photosynthesis, carbon capture, mineralization, transformation, decomposition processes<\/p>\n | Weed suppression residues in place from water or wind erosion<\/p>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Animals \u2013 Integral part of agricultural landscapes<\/td>\n | Forage opportunities<\/p>\n | Habitat<\/p>\n Wildlife benefits<\/p>\n Pollinator benefits<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Energy \u2013 Efficient use for economic benefit<\/td>\n | Energy savings<\/p>\n | <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Air \u2013 Quality for human health<\/td>\n | Decreased dust and particulate matter movement<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n | <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" |