Study

Cover crops lower soil surface strength, may improve soil permeability

  • Published source details Folorunso O.A., Rolston D.E., Prichard P.T. & Louie D.T. (1992) Cover crops lower soil surface strength, may improve soil permeability. California Agriculture, 46, 26-27.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Water: Plant or maintain ground cover in orchards or vineyards

Action Link
Mediterranean Farmland

Water: Grow cover crops in arable fields

Action Link
Mediterranean Farmland
  1. Water: Plant or maintain ground cover in orchards or vineyards

    A replicated, controlled study (years not reported) in an almond orchard in the Central Valley, California, USA, found that more water filtered into soils with ground cover, compared to bare soils. Water availability: More water filtered into soils with ground cover, compared to bare soils (2.2–2.6 vs 1.3 inches in four hours). Methods: There were four plots for each of three ground covers (Blando bromegrass, native vegetation, or strawberry clover) and one control (bare soil). Water infiltration was measured under the ground cover and the controls, after five years.

     

  2. Water: Grow cover crops in arable fields

    A replicated, controlled study (years not reported) in a tomato field near Davis, California, USA, found that more water filtered into soils with cover crops, compared to bare soils. Water availability: More water filtered into soils with cover crops, compared to bare soils (8.0–8.3 vs 7.5 inches in four hours). Implementation options: Similar infiltration rates were found under oat-vetch and vetch cover crops (8 vs 8.3 inches in four hours). Methods: There were four plots for each of two cover crops (oat-vetch or vetch, planted in winter) and one control (no cover crop). Water infiltration was measured with an infiltrometer in spring, under the tomato crop that followed the cover crops, after three years of cover cropping.

Output references
What Works 2021 cover

What Works in Conservation

What Works in Conservation provides expert assessments of the effectiveness of actions, based on summarised evidence, in synopses. Subjects covered so far include amphibians, birds, mammals, forests, peatland and control of freshwater invasive species. More are in progress.

More about What Works in Conservation

Download free PDF or purchase
The Conservation Evidence Journal

The Conservation Evidence Journal

An online, free to publish in, open-access journal publishing results from research and projects that test the effectiveness of conservation actions.

Read the latest volume: Volume 21

Go to the CE Journal

Discover more on our blog

Our blog contains the latest news and updates from the Conservation Evidence team, the Conservation Evidence Journal, and our global partners in evidence-based conservation.


Who uses Conservation Evidence?

Meet some of the evidence champions

Endangered Landscape ProgrammeRed List Champion - Arc Kent Wildlife Trust The Rufford Foundation Save the Frogs - Ghana Mauritian Wildlife Supporting Conservation Leaders
Sustainability Dashboard National Biodiversity Network Frog Life The international journey of Conservation - Oryx Cool Farm Alliance UNEP AWFA Bat Conservation InternationalPeople trust for endangered species Vincet Wildlife Trust