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Definition
Cover agriculture is a strategy for the design and management
of farming or cropping systems in which benefits derived from
natural processes (i.e. nutrient cycling) or human actions
(e.g. pest and weed control) are optimized and negative trade-offs
among productivity, stability and sustainability are minimized.
Cover agriculture relies on a thorough understanding of the
biophysical system combined with judicious application of
selected tools and principles from ecology, biotechnology
and agronomy. Typically, stubble or a permanent soil cover
is maintained in these systems throughout the cropping cycle
or throughout the year (hence the term cover, or mulch-based,
agriculture). This cover provides a number of benefits: soil
erosion control, weed suppression, moisture conservation,
soil fertility maintenance or restoration through recycling
of nutrients, and the biological fixation or nitrogen. Since
weeding is the primary labor demanding activity of file agriculture,
as found in Central America, weed suppression results in significant
labor saving benefits for farmers. Cover agriculture, as demonstrated
on tens of thousands of farms in Central America and southern
Brazil, can produce a win-win means to improving agriculture
through improved production, soil conservation and labor saving
benefits (Monegat 1991; Thurston 1996).
As a result of the largely spontaneous adoption of cover agriculture
that now spans millions of hectares, numerous development
organizations in the lowland tropics, particularly non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) have vigorously promoted cropping systems
and practices linked to cover agriculture. Increasingly, the
topic has also been included in the agenda of many research
organizations such as EMBRAPA, CIMMYT and Cornell University.
Results of these efforts suggest that cover agriculture has
potential for increasing productivity on a sustainable basis
in areas where capital inputs for agriculture are scarce,
and for conserving or protecting the natural resource base
in marginal areas.
Source: 
Cover agriculture (Ecuador) proposal
narrative
Relevant CCRP projects
Currently funded projects
Cover agriculture (Ecuador)
Green manure/legumes (Bolivia)
Relevant events
None listed as of
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Relevant literature
None listed as of
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Relevant links
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