Improving Soil Health and Cropping Systems Sustainably Through Cover Crops: An Integrated Research, Education, and Support Approach

Abstract Cover crops have been identified as a cropping system that can maintain and improve sustainability and economic viability under changing climatic conditions. However, cover crop adoption, even though growing, still struggles in meeting the ideal levels of agronomic and environmental needs partly due to a lack of site-specific management protocols and planting equipment. The proposed project will use a multidisciplinary systems approach to improve cover crop adoption through research, outreach, and support for small scale farmers in the Southeastern region. This goal will be achieved by posing and answering the following questions: 1) how can cover crops influence soil physical and thermal properties in situ, 2) what soil health indicators and cash crop growth parameters can be influenced, 3) how does cover crops affect the interdependence between soil health indicators, cropping systems and environmental sustainability, and economic viability, and 4) providing education, outreach, and support to local and small-scale farmers. This project is unique because it will be one of the first projects to help local farmers improve cover crop adoption through peer education involving collaborating farmers, and by making a cover crop seed drill readily available for farmers to use. It is also unique because it will actively investigate the effects of cover crops on the interaction between soil health indicators, cropping systems sustainability, and economic viability. The objectives and goal of the proposed Systems Research project is relevant to the Southern SARE program objectives because it will help promote the stewardship of the nation’s natural resources while maintaining the economic viability of farms, and promoting the successes of limited-resource, young, minority, and beginning farmers. This project will also encourage the collaboration between researchers and farmers and the participation of students in various institutions within the Southeastern region. Results of the project activities will be published in peer-reviewed journals, summaries will be made available on social media, via research and institutional websites and promoted through extension educational programs. Education and outreach efforts will lead to the development of lesson and activity plans for improving high school student interest and engagement in sustainable agriculture.