Effects of Cover Crops on Soil Physical Properties: A Comprehensive Review

The process of improving the soil's physical properties is essential to the conservation of soil. It is possible for cover cropping to enhance the soil's physical properties as well as its amount of organic matter. This, in turn, may prevent soil loss, which in turn can increase soil productivity and environmental quality. This article discusses the advantages of cover crops (CCs), for enhancing the soil's physical and hydraulic properties, as well as certain benefits that could arise in terms of soil conservation. According to the findings of the review, the presence of CCs in soil causes a reduction of roughly 4% in soil bulk density, an increase in macrospores of approximately 33%, and an increase in water penetration of up to 629%, in comparison to soil that does not include CCs. There have been reports that these changes led to a decrease in soil loss of up to 96%. It has been determined that there are certain information gaps in the area of knowing how CCs might alter the physical properties of soil. One of these knowledge gaps involves determining whether aboveground or belowground biomass has a more significant role in the buildup of organic carbon. To further enhance soil physical properties and the related advantages, future study should concentrate on the interconnection of soil pores formed by CCs and the effect of CCs on heat transfer parameters.

Keywords: Cover crops, sustainable agriculture, soil aeration, soil porosity, soil aggregation, soil permeability