How long does it take to form an inch of topsoil? Most soil scientists believe it takes at least 100 years.
While creating new topsoil is daunting, you can see soil benefits in just a few years with conservation practices such as cover crops.
“We have to look at our soil as living, and living things need to be fed,” says Brendon Blank, Wisconsin crop consultant. “That’s what we’re doing with cover crops. The more life we have, the more productive it is — it’s just hard to measure.”
The Long Haul
The old adage of good things take time holds true with soil health practices on your farm.
“Cover crops are a long-term thing,” Blank says. “If you have the mindset I’m going to try it for one year and see if it works, you’re not setting yourself up for success. Think about your goal for cover crops. Why are you doing it? Go in with a reason, and measure your success from that.”
Cover crop benefits can include:
- Increased organic matter.
- Greater microbial activity.
- Reduced need for synthetic fertilizer.
- Better water-holding capacity.
- Reduced erosion from water and wind.
- Yield increases in cash crops.
- Weed suppression.
“We need to look at cover crops as an investment and a way to harvest more sunlight and create healthier soils for the long run,” Blank says.
Potential Pitfalls
As with any production practice, cover crops come with risk. Plan through your cover crop planting window and labor needs.
If you’re trying cover crops, or are relatively new to them, be aware of these challenges and try to have contingency plans in place.
“There are challenges, but you can often prevent those issues with proper planning,” Blank says.
