Cover Crops For Water-Conservation

Needs Address

• Conservation of water resources
• Traditional methods of water management

Adaptation effects

• Food security through increased yields
• Economic resilience due to increased agricultural production
• Resilience to dryness and heat induces agricultural stressors such as drought
• Reduce the demand for water for agricultural crops

Overview and Features

Growth of cover crops on land during period when cash crops are not being grown protects the soil and enables soil and water conservation. 

Cost

Costs for cover crop seed – varies between locations

Energy source

Human resources

Ease of maintenance

Cover crops require maintenance such as weeding and other care throughout growth cycle

Technology performance

Has increased yields and improved soil quality in terms of fertility, nutrition and reduced erosion

Considerations

• The appropriate cover crop must be selected for the location in which it is being planted.
• The cover crop must enhance soil moisture, rather then reducing it
• The farmer must have access to land year round
• Additional land preparation required when cash crop growing season comes

Co-benefit, suitability for developing countries

• Enhances soil fertility due to nutrient fixing qualities of cover crops
• Reduces soil erosion
• Enables additional crop to be grown for retail or personal consumption
• Maximises use of land
• Requires additional financial input for farmers, however this investment should be beneficial due to increased yields year round
• Knowledge and knowhow for selecting appropriate crops
• Can use locally available and indigenous crops for increased effectiveness and suitability
• Can provide an additional income source
• Soil must be suitable – i.e. not too degraded to use this method for increasing moisture

Information Resources

CTAHR, n.d. Cover Crops: Legumes. College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. Available from: http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/sustainag/CoverCrops/perennial_peanut.asp [13 January 2015]

EchoCommunity, n.d. Green Manures and Cover Crops. Echo Community. Available from:  http://www.echocommunity.org/resource/resmgr/a_to_z/azch6gre.htm [13 January 2015]

FAO, 2009. Conservation Agriculture in Uzbekistan. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Available from: http://www.fao.org/ag/ca/doc/ca_uzb_wp2.pdf [13 January 2015]