The effect of cover crop species diversity on weed suppression and soil carbon sequestration

Abstract

Cover crops have been a rising power in the global agricultural scene and have been the subject of many studies. The aim of this study, which is in the first year of a long term experiment, was to test for the capacity of cover crops to provide several benefits including, competition against weeds, coverage of the land during the otherwise fallow months, production of biomass which will in turn be incorporated in the soil and provide valuable nutrients and benefits to the soil. The results recorded on the effects on weed suppression, NDVI values, and the capacity to produce biomass, were according to relevant literature and as expected provided better results, with the grass plant species providing the best possible results. However, the capacity of the plants to impact soil organic carbon was not as significant as expected. The experiment also provides the basis for more research on the topic.