Cover crop species, with a special focus on Source Conservation Agriculture in FAO Keywords Soil erosion, no tillage, , land, soil Country of first practice Brazil ID and publishing year 7414 and 2012 Sustainbale Development Goals Zero hunger, decent work and economic growth and life on the land Summary This practice describes how conservation • permit a rotation in a monoculture; and tillage, and especially zero-tillage helps • can be used to control weeds and pests. reverse soil erosion caused by Soil tillage. 1. The use of cover crops Description The use of cover crops as part of CA approach has a wider benefit when looking Conservation Agriculture (CA) is an approach into the resilience of the agro-system and to managing agro-ecosystems for improved those farmers’ livelihoods that adopt it. From and sustained productivity, increased the ecosystem perspective, the soil will be profits and food security while preserving more resilient to disasters such as droughts and enhancing the resource base and the and heavy rainfall, and at the same time, soil environment. will improve its quality. Farmers will benefit Keeping the soil covered is a fundamental from this improvement, because he will be principle of CA. Crop residues are left on the able to increase the crop yield and be less soil surface, but cover crops may be needed vulnerable in terms of food security, and also if the gap is too long between harvesting one considering new market opportunities for crop and establishing the next. Cover crops their increased production. improve the stability of the CA system, not Cover crops are grown during fallow periods, only on the improvement of soil properties between harvest and planting of commercial but also for their capacity to promote an crops, utilizing the residual soil moisture. increased biodiversity in the agro-ecosystem. Their growth is interrupted either before the While commercial crops have a market value, next crop is sown, or after sowing the next cover crops are mainly grown for their effect crop, but before competition between the on soil fertility or as livestock fodder. two crops starts. In regions where smaller amounts of biomass There are various crop alternatives to be are produced, such as semi-arid regions or used as vegetative cover, such as grains, areas of eroded and degraded soils, cover legumes, root crops and oil crops. All of them crops are beneficial as they: are of great benefit to the soil; however • protect the soil during fallow periods; some cover crops have • mobilize and recycle nutrients; certain attributes, which • improve the soil structure and break need to be kept in mind when TECA compacted layers and hard pans; planning a rotation scheme. It TECHNOLOGIES is important to start the first and PRACTICES for SMALL AGRICULTURAL 1 / 5 PRODUCERS Natural Resources Management

years of conservation agriculture with cover For this, it is not only necessary to be crops that leave a lot of residues on the soil conversant with the agronomic details of surface, which decompose slowly (because the species, but also all specific conditions of the high Carbon/Nitrogen ratio = an of the site where they will be sown (soil and indicator for nitrogen limitation of plants and climate) and the anticipated objectives and other organisms). Grasses and cereals are socio-economic conditions of the farmers. most appropriate for this stage, also because The species that will be used as cover crops of their aggressive and abundant rooting need to be tested and validated by the system, which take less time to improve the farmers on their land in order for them to soil. get acquainted with the technical details of In the following years, when the soil shows the species. a healthier appearance, cover crops 1.2 Selection of cover crops can be incorporated in the rotation. Later, when the system is stabilized it is possible The selection of cover crops should depend to include cover crops with an economic on the following criteria: function, like livestock fodder. • The presence of high levels of lignin 1.1. Factors to consider when using cover and phenolic acids (a type of organic crops compounds, can be found in many plant species, it is high in dried fruits), which When a farmer considers using cover crops, give the residues a higher resistance to it is important to know: decomposition and thus results in soil • whether it needs to have more benefits protection for a longer period. (e.g. edible , fodder value); • Time of sowing. Many species show • which of the available cover crops is the dormancy (is a period in an organism’s life most appropriate?; cycle when growth and development are • when to sow and control the cover crop; temporarily stopped) or photoperiodism • whether the cover crop needs a lot of (the developmental responses of plants to water, and if this will be available; the relative lengths of the light and dark • if it is possible to control the cover crop periods). This means that the production sufficiently, so that it doesn’t turn into a of biomass depends on the period of the weed; and year in which the plant is sown. Seeding • whether the cover crop provides the should be done in the proper season. same benefits as a rotation with only In order not to jeopardize the following commercial crops (e.g. immediately crops, a good planning of the cover crops following a cereal crop with a commercial is necessary. legume). • A proper spacing / density of the cover In order to be able to successfully crop is important in order to create a integrate cover crops in the CA production rapid covering of the surface to protect system, it is crucial to select the plants the soil from rain and sun and to suppress that are adapted to the different soil and the weeds. climatic conditions and that have growth • Soil management: for seeding of the cover characteristics that allow it to fit in the crop no land preparation is needed. rotation scheme. • Cover crops can be sown either using

2 / 5 direct seeding or broadcast over the Lotononis bainesii, Medicago sativa, stubble of the last crop, possibly using a Phaseolus lathyroides, Trifolium spp. tree trunk, knife-roller, disc harrow (see 2.3.2 English name the explanation above) used as roller Butterfly pea, Greenleaf desmodium, with the discs set at a disc angle close to Glycine, Lotononis, Lucerne, Phasey , 0 degree or chains for putting the seeds Clover. into contact with the soil. Some species, like hairy vetch, have the ability to reseed 2.3.3 Spanish name themselves. Campanilla, zapallito de la reina, • quality: like in commercial crops, Pega‑pega, Soja perenne, Lotononis, Miles the seeds or planting material of cover lotononis, Alfalfa, Frijol de monte, frijol de crops need to be of high quality and free los arrozales, Trébol of pathogens to avoid failure through low 2.4 Legumes adapted to frequently flooded quality seeds. or inundated areas 2. Agroecological adaptation of most 2.4.1 Scientific name commonly used cover crops: Lotononis bainesii, Phaseolus lathyroides, 2.1 Legumes adapted to humid lowlands Pueraria phaseoloides , Vigna luteola, 2.1.1 Scientific name Vigna umbellate. Centrosema pubescens, Phaseolus mungo, 2.4.2 English name Pueraria phaseoloides. Lotononis, Phasey bean, Tropical kudzu, 2.1.2 English name Dalrymplar vigna, Rice bea. Centro, butterfly pea, Black gram, Tropical 2.4.3 Spanish name kudzu. Lotononis, Miles lotononis, Frijol de 2.1.3 Spanish name monte, frijol de los arrozales, Kudzú Jetirana, bejuco de chivo, Kudzú tropical. tropical. 2.2 Legumes adapted to fire 2.5 Legumes that tolerate drought 2.2.1 Scientific name 2.5.1 Scientific name Centrosema pubescens, Desmodium Cajanus cajan, brasiliensis, adscendens , Glycine wightii, Macroptilium Canavalia ensiformis, Clitoria ternatea, atropurpureum. Desmanthus virgatus, Desmodium uncinatum, Dolichos lablab, Galactia 2.2.2 English name striata, Glycine wightii, Indigofera Centro, butterfly pea, Glycine, Siratro. endecaphylla, Leucaena endecaphylla, 2.2.3 Spanish name Macrotyloma axillare, Stylosanthes Jetirana, bejuco de chivo, Soja perenne, guyanensis, Stylosanthes hamata, Siratro. Stylosanthes humilis, Stylozobium spp, Vigna unguiculate. 2.3 Legumes adapted to cold conditions 2.5.2 English name 2.3.1 Scientific name Pigeon pea, Jack bean - sword bean, Clitoria ternatea, Desmodium intortum, butterfly pea, Silverleaf desmosium, Desmodium incinatum, Glycine wightii, Lablab bean, Glycine, Archer axillaris,

3 / 5 Common stylo, tropical lucerne, Caribbean 2.8 Legumes and other species tolerant to stylo, pencil flower, Townsville stylo, wild low soil fertility lucerne, Mucuna, velvet bean, Cowpea. 2.8.1 Scientific name 2.5.3 Spanish name Cajanus cajan, Calopogonium mucunoides, Guandul, Canavalia, Campanilla, zapallito Canavalia brasiliensis, Canavalia de la reina, Frijol caballo, gallinita, Frijolillo, ensiformis, Centrosema spp., Desmodium Galactia, Soja perenne, Indigo, Alfalfa de spp., Galactia striata , Indigofera Brasil, Tebeneque, Alfalfa salvaje, Frijol spp., Leucaena leucocephala, Lotus terciopelo, Caupi. corniculatus, Lupinus luteus, Macroptilium atropurpureum, Stylosanthes spp., 2.6 Legumes adapted to shade Stylozobium aterrimum, Teramnus 2.6.1 Scientific name uncinatus, Vicia villosa, Vigna unguiculata, Arachis pintoi , Calopogonium mucunoides, Zornia diphlla, Lolium multiflorum, Canavalia ensiformis, Indigofera spp., Ornithopus sativus, Secale cereale, Leucaena leucocephala , Pueraria Spergula arvensis. phaseoloides, Trifolium repens. 2.8.2 English name 2.6.2 English name Pigeon pea, Calapo, Jack bean, sword Horse groundnut, Calapo, Jack bean, bean, Centro, butterfly pea, Desmodium, sword bean, Leucaena, Tropical kudzu, Leucaena, Birdsfoot trefoil, Yellow lupin, White clover. Siratro, Stylo, Black mucuna, Hairy vetch, 2.6.3 Spanish name Cowpea, Zornia, Italian ryegrass, Pink Mani forajera, Rabo de iguana, Canavalia, serradella, bird’s foot, Rye, Corn spurry, Indigo, Leucena, acacia bella rosa, aroma spurry. blanca, Kudzú tropical, Trébol blanco. 2.8.3 Spanish name 2.7 Legumes adapted to fertile soils Guandul, Rabo de iguana, Canavalia, 2.7.1 Scientific name Jetirana, bejuco de chivo, Pega-pega, Glycine wightii, Medicago sativa, Frijolillo, Galactia, Indigo, Leucena, Lupino Stilozobium deeringianum (Mucuna amarillo, Siratro, Frijol terciopelo negro, pruriens), Trifolium spp., Vicia sativa, Vicia Mani de venado, Arveja pelluda, Caupi, villosa. Zornia, barba de burro, Centeno, Linacilla. 2.7.2 English name 3. Validation of the practice Glycine, Lucerne, Mucuna, Velvet bean Conservation tillage, and especially zero- Mucuna, Clover, Common vetch, Hairy tillage, was successfully implemented in vetch. southern Brazil, North America, New Zealand 2.7.3 Spanish name and Australia. Over the last two decades Soja perenne, Alfalfa, Frijol terciopelo, the technologies have been improved and Trébol, Arveja comun, Veza peluda. adapted for nearly all farm sizes; soils; crop types; and climatic zones. Experience is still being gained with this new approach to agriculture and FAO has supported the process for many years.

4 / 5 4. Minimum requirements for the successful 6. Related/Associated Technologies implementation of the practice • 7417; and Applying CA in farms imply high initial costs • 7415. of specialized planting equipment and the 7. Objectives fulfilled by the project completely new dynamics of a conservation farming system, requiring high management 7.1 Resource use efficiency skills and a learning process by the farmer. This practice helps maintaining soil from degradation due to conventional tilling 5. Agro-ecological zones practices. • Tropics, warm; and • Subtropics, warm/mod cool.

TECA TECHNOLOGIES and PRACTICES for SMALL AGRICULTURAL 5 / 5 PRODUCERS