Cover Crops: Benefits for Soil and the Environment
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22458/urj.v18i1.6100Keywords:
Sustainable agriculture, soil, conservation, carbon, microbiota, agroecologyAbstract
Introduction: One of the main concerns in current agricultural systems is the decline in soil quality and the deterioration of ecosystem services, highlighting the need to recover ancestral agricultural practices such as cover crops, which combine improvements in production systems with climate change mitigation. Methods: This literature review analyzes 111 publications from 2010 to 2025, examining the effects of cover crops across four thematic areas: (1) soil conservation and physical properties, (2) organic matter and nutrient inputs, (3) soil ecology, and (4) climate change mitigation. Results: Cover crops enhance soil structural stability, increase porosity, and promote greater water infiltration, thereby reducing water erosion. They also contribute biomass and nutrients that enrich organic matter, improve fertility, and strengthen moisture retention, even under hot conditions. Ecologically, they diversify soil biota, stimulate microbial and macrofaunal communities, and promote beneficial associations such as mycorrhizae. They represent a valuable strategy against climate change by enhancing carbon sequestration and reducing reflected solar radiation. However, living cover crops remain underutilized, mainly due to limited research on their integration into conventional agricultural management plans. Conclusion: Current literature indicates that cover crops are a key alternative for addressing agricultural challenges, helping to curb soil degradation and serving as a natural climate solution through carbon sequestration and radiation reduction. Nevertheless, their adoption remains limited, hindering the alignment of agricultural production with resource conservation and the development of more resilient and sustainable agroecosystems.
References
Abdalla, M., Hastings, A., Cheng, K., Yue, Q., Chadwick, D., Espenberg, M., Truu, J., Rees, R. M., & Smith, P. (2019). A critical review of the impacts of cover crops on nitrogen leaching, net greenhouse gas balance and crop productivity. Global Change Biology, 25(8), 2530. https://doi.org/10.1111/GCB.14644
Acharya, P., Ghimire, R., Idowu, O. J., & Shukla, M. K. (2024). Cover cropping enhanced soil aggregation and associated carbon and nitrogen storage in semi-arid silage cropping systems. CATENA, 245, 108264. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CATENA.2024.108264
Adedayo, A. A., & Olorunkosebi, M. T. (2025). Coevolution Dynamics of Beneficial and Pathogenic Microbes in Plant–Microbe Interactions. Biology 2025, 14(11), 1505. https://doi.org/10.3390/BIOLOGY14111505
Andén, D. A., & Pizzolon, L. A. (2025). Procesos de eutrofización en los ríos Azul y Quemquemtreu, subcuenca del Lago Puelo, Argentina. Ecología Austral, 35(1), 001–015. https://doi.org/10.25260/EA.25.35.1.0.2335
Artavia-Rodríguez, L. G., Masís-Campos, R., & Ávalos-Rodríguez, G. (2024). Análisis espacio-temporal del régimen de fuego en las sábanas húmedas del Pacífico Sur de Costa Rica mediante datos MODIS 2001-2022. Revista de geografía Norte Grande, 2024(87), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-34022024000100112
Bach, E. M., Williams, R. J., Hargreaves, S. K., Yang, F., & Hofmockel, K. S. (2018). Greatest soil microbial diversity found in micro-habitats. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 118, 217–226. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.SOILBIO.2017.12.018
Badía, D., López-García, S., Martí, C., Ortiz-Perpiñá, O., Girona-García, A., & Casanova-Gascón, J. (2017). Burn effects on soil properties associated to heat transfer under contrasting moisture content. Science of The Total Environment, 601–602, 1119–1128. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.SCITOTENV.2017.05.254
Basche, A. D., Archontoulis, S. V., Kaspar, T. C., Jaynes, D. B., Parkin, T. B., & Miguez, F. E. (2016). Simulating long-term impacts of cover crops and climate change on crop production and environmental outcomes in the Midwestern United States. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 218, 95–106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2015.11.011
Basche, A. D., Kaspar, T. C., Archontoulis, S. V., Jaynes, D. B., Sauer, T. J., Parkin, T. B., & Miguez, F. E. (2016). Soil water improvements with the long-term use of a winter rye cover crop. Agricultural Water Management, 172, 40–50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2016.04.006
Bejar-Pulido, S. J., Hernández, F. J., Cantú-Silva, I., González-Rodríguez, H., Luna-Robles, E. O., & Domínguez-Gómez, T. G. (2024). Propiedades mecánicas y químicas de las raíces de árboles nativos y su posible efecto sobre la estabilidad del suelo en Durango, México. Polibotánica, 0(57), 107–124. https://doi.org/10.18387/polibotanica.57.6
Bojórquez Serrano, J. I., Castillo Pacheco, L. A., Hernández Jiménez, A., García Paredes, J. D., & Madueño Molina, A. (2015). Cambios en las reservas de carbono orgánico del suelo bajo diferentes coberturas. Cultivos tropicales, 36(4), 63. http://scielo.sld.cu/pdf/ctr/v36n4/ctr08415.pdf
Bowles, T. M., Jackson, L. E., Loeher, M., & Cavagnaro, T. R. (2017). Ecological intensification and arbuscular mycorrhizas: a meta-analysis of tillage and cover crop effects. Journal of Applied Ecology, 54(6), 1785–1793. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.12815
Capurro, J. E., & Montico, S. (2022). Efectos de cultivos de cobertura sobre el agua del suelo, el aporte de carbono al sistema y el rendimiento de soja en diferentes ambientes. Revista FAVE, 21(1), 49–65. https://doi.org/10.14409/FA.V21I1.11114
Carrer, D., Pique, G., Ferlicoq, M., Ceamanos, X., & Ceschia, E. (2018). What is the potential of cropland albedo management in the fight against global warming? A case study based on the use of cover crops. Environmental Research Letters, 13(4), 044030. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aab650
Chen, G., & Weil, R. R. (2010). Penetration of cover crop roots through compacted soils. Plant and Soil, 331(1), 31–43. https://doi.org/10.1007/S11104-009-0223-7/TABLES/5
Chen, L., Rejesus, R. M., Aglasan, S., Hagen, S. C., & Salas, W. (2022). The impact of cover crops on soil erosion in the US Midwest. Journal of Environmental Management, 324, 116168. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JENVMAN.2022.116168
Dagatti, C. V., Campón, F. F., González, M. F., Mazzitelli, M. E., Marcucci, B., Solís, S. E., Bonfanti, S., & Uliarte, E. M. (2024). Diversidad de insectos, colémbolos y arañas en viñedos bajo diferentes sistemas de producción, convencional y agroecológico, en Mendoza, Argentina. Ecología Austral, 34(1), 141–158. https://doi.org/10.25260/EA.24.34.1.0.2272
Daryanto, S., Fu, B., Wang, L., Jacinthe, P. A., & Zhao, W. (2018). Quantitative synthesis on the ecosystem services of cover crops. Earth-Science Reviews, 185, 357–373. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EARSCIREV.2018.06.013
De Baets, S., Poesen, J., Meersmans, J., & Serlet, L. (2011). Cover crops and their erosion-reducing effects during concentrated flow erosion. CATENA, 85(3), 237–244. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2011.01.009
de Lima, R. P., Rolim, M. M., Toledo, M. P. S., Tormena, C. A., da Silva, A. R., e Silva, I. A. C., & Pedrosa, E. M. R. (2022). Texture and degree of compactness effect on the pore size distribution in weathered tropical soils. Soil and Tillage Research, 215, 105215. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.STILL.2021.105215
dos Santos Cordeiro, C. F., Echer, F. R., & Araujo, F. F. (2021). Cover Crops Impact Crops Yields by Improving Microbiological Activity and Fertility in Sandy Soil. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition 2021 21:3, 21(3), 1968–1977. https://doi.org/10.1007/S42729-021-00494-0
Dowdeswell-Downey, E., Grabowski, R. C., & Rickson, R. J. (2023). Do temperature and moisture conditions impact soil microbiology and aggregate stability? Journal of Soils and Sediments 2023 23:10, 23(10), 3706–3719. https://doi.org/10.1007/S11368-023-03628-2
Drever, C. R., Cook-Patton, S. C., Akhter, F., Badiou, P. H., Chmura, G. L., Davidson, S. J., Desjardins, R. L., Dyk, A., Fargione, J. E., Fellows, M., Filewod, B., Hessing-Lewis, M., Jayasundara, S., Keeton, W. S., Kroeger, T., Lark, T. J., Le, E., Leavitt, S. M., LeClerc, M.-E., … Kurz, W. A. (2021). Natural climate solutions for Canada. Science Advances, 7(23). https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abd6034
Eckert, M., Mathulwe, L. L., Gaigher, R., Joubert-van der Merwe, L., & Pryke, J. S. (2020). Native cover crops enhance arthropod diversity in vineyards of the Cape Floristic Region. Journal of Insect Conservation, 24(1), 133–149. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10841-019-00196-0
Enríquez-Quiroz, J. F., Esqueda-Esquivel, V. A., Ángel-Hernández, A., & Zárate-Martínez, J. P. (2025). Supresión de malezas con leguminosas de cobertura en huertas de cítricos. Jóvenes en la Ciencia, 34, 1–6. https://www.jovenesenlaciencia.ugto.mx/index.php/jovenesenlaciencia/article/view/4723
Farmaha, B. S., Sekaran, U., & Franzluebbers, A. J. (2022). Cover cropping and conservation tillage improve soil health in the southeastern United States. Agronomy Journal, 114(1), 296–316. https://doi.org/10.1002/AGJ2.20865
Fernández, R., Quiroga, A., & Noellemeyer, E. (2012). Cultivos de cobertura, ¿una alternativa viable para la región semiárida pampeana? Argentina, 30(2), 137–150.
Final, V., & Cristini, M. (2023). El sector agropecuario extensivo en América Latina: oportunidades y desafíos del cambio climático y la protección de la biodiversidad. https://scioteca.caf.com/handle/123456789/2035
Finney, D. M., Buyer, J. S., & Kaye, J. P. (2017). Living cover crops have immediate impacts on soil microbial community structure and function. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 72(4), 361–373. https://doi.org/10.2489/JSWC.72.4.361;PAGE:STRING:ARTICLE/CHAPTER
Finney, D. M., White, C. M., & Kaye, J. P. (2016). Biomass Production and Carbon/Nitrogen Ratio Influence Ecosystem Services from Cover Crop Mixtures. Agronomy Journal, 108(1), 39–52. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj15.0182
Fiorini, A., Remelli, S., Boselli, R., Mantovi, P., Ardenti, F., Trevisan, M., Menta, C., & Tabaglio, V. (2022). Driving crop yield, soil organic C pools, and soil biodiversity with selected winter cover crops under no-till. Soil & Tillage Research, 217, 105283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2021.105283
Gao, Z., Chang, R., Nzube, A., Ahmad, N., Peng, Y., Zhang, J., Liu, Z., & Wang, T. (2025). Nitrogen addition enhances soil aggregate stability by increasing the contents of microbial gluing agents in a subalpine forest. Plant and Soil, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-024-07172-x
Garg, J., & Rakshit, A. (2024). Compost Tea: An Emerging Nature-Based Supplement Strengthening Options for Durable Agriculture. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition 2024 24:4, 24(4), 8075–8098. https://doi.org/10.1007/S42729-024-02100-5
Garland, G., Edlinger, A., Banerjee, S., Degrune, F., García-Palacios, P., Pescador, D. S., Herzog, C., Romdhane, S., Saghai, A., Spor, A., Wagg, C., Hallin, S., Maestre, F. T., Philippot, L., Rillig, M. C., & van der Heijden, M. G. A. (2021). Crop cover is more important than rotational diversity for soil multifunctionality and cereal yields in European cropping systems. Nature Food, 2(1), 28–37. https://doi.org/10.1038/S43016-020-00210-8
Golroodbari, S., & van Sark, W. (2022). On the effect of dynamic albedo on performance modelling of offshore floating photovoltaic systems. Solar Energy Advances, 2, 100016. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.SEJA.2022.100016
Gómez, J. A., Campos, M., Guzmán, G., Castillo-Llanque, F., Vanwalleghem, T., Lora, Á., & Giráldez, J. V. (2018). Soil erosion control, plant diversity, and arthropod communities under heterogeneous cover crops in an olive orchard. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 25(2), 977–989. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-8339-9
González-Barrios, J. L., González-Cervantes, G., Sánchez-Cohen, I., López-Santos, A., & Valenzuela-Núñez, L. M. (2011). Caracterización de la porosidad edáfica como indicador de la calidad física del suelo. Terra Latinoamericana, 29(4), 369–377. http://www.scielo.org.mx/pdf/tl/v29n4/2395-8030-tl-29-04-00369.pdf
Guevara-Bonilla, M., Briceño-Elizondo, E., Esquivel-Segura, E., Arguedas, M., & Arias-Aguilar, D. (2021). Cover crops as a weed control method and their effect on the initial growth of a tectona grandis plantation. Floresta, 51(1), 184–191. https://doi.org/10.5380/RF.V51I1.67857
Haque, M. A., Ku, S., & Haruna, S. I. (2024). Soil thermal properties: influence of no-till cover crops. Canadian Journal of Soil Science, 104(3), 246–256. https://doi.org/10.1139/CJSS-2023-0095
Hartley, I. P., Hill, T. C., Chadburn, S. E., & Hugelius, G. (2021). Temperature effects on carbon storage are controlled by soil stabilization capacities. Nature Communications 2021 12:1, 12(1), 6713-. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-27101-1
Haruna, S. I., Anderson, S. H., Nkongolo, N. V., & Zaibon, S. (2018). Soil Hydraulic Properties: Influence of Tillage and Cover Crops. Pedosphere, 28(3), 430–442. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1002-0160(17)60387-4
Hudek, C., Putinica, C., Otten, W., & De Baets, S. (2022). Functional root trait-based classification of cover crops to improve soil physical properties. European Journal of Soil Science, 73(1), e13147. https://doi.org/10.1111/EJSS.13147;WGROUP:STRING:PUBLICATION
Huerta-Olague, J. de J., Oropeza Mota, J. L., Guevara Gutiérrez, R. D., Ríos Berber, J. D., Martínez Menes, M. R., Barreto García, O. A., Olguín López, J. L., & Mancilla Villa, O. R. (2018). Efecto de la cobertura vegetal de cuatro cultivos sobre la erosión del suelo. Idesia (Arica), 36(2), 153–162. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-34292018005000701
Kaspar, T. C., & Singer, J. W. (2011). The Use of Cover Crops to Manage Soil. En J. L. Hatfield & T. J. Sauer (Eds.), Soil Management: Building a Stable Base for Agriculture (pp. 321–337). Wiley. https://doi.org/10.2136/2011.soilmanagement.c21
Kasper, S., Mohsin, F., Richards, L., & Racelis, A. (2022). Cover crops may exacerbate moisture limitations on South Texas dryland farms. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 77(3), 261–269. https://doi.org/10.2489/JSWC.2022.00088
Kaye, J. P., & Quemada, M. (2017). Using cover crops to mitigate and adapt to climate change. A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 37(1), 4. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-016-0410-x
Khan, M. T., Aleinikovienė, J., & Butkevičienė, L. M. (2024). Innovative Organic Fertilizers and Cover Crops: Perspectives for Sustainable Agriculture in the Era of Climate Change and Organic Agriculture. Agronomy 2024, 14(12), 2871. https://doi.org/10.3390/AGRONOMY14122871
Langelier, M., Chantigny, M. H., Pageau, D., & Vanasse, A. (2021). Nitrogen-15 labelling and tracing techniques reveal cover crops transfer more fertilizer N to the soil reserve than to the subsequent crop. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 313, 107359. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.AGEE.2021.107359
López-Vicente, M., Gómez, J. A., Guzmán, G., Calero, J., & García-Ruiz, R. (2021). The role of cover crops in the loss of protected and non-protected soil organic carbon fractions due to water erosion in a Mediterranean olive grove. Soil & Tillage Research, 213, 105–119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2021.105119
Luis Bernal Albendín, J. (2023). Planes de Sostenibilidad en la Agricultura. Cámara de Comercio de Orihuela. https://www.camaraorihuela.es/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Guia_IVACE_PLANES_DE_SOSTENIBILIDAD_EN_AGRICULTURA-002.pdf
Lyu, D., Msimbira, L. A., Nazari, M., Antar, M., Pagé, A., Shah, A., Monjezi, N., Zajonc, J., Tanney, C. A. S., Backer, R., & Smith, D. L. (2021). The Coevolution of Plants and Microbes Underpins Sustainable Agriculture. Microorganisms 2021, 9(5), 1036. https://doi.org/10.3390/MICROORGANISMS9051036
MacHmuller, M. B., Kramer, M. G., Cyle, T. K., Hill, N., Hancock, D., & Thompson, A. (2015). Emerging land use practices rapidly increase soil organic matter. Nature Communications 2015, 6(1), 6995-. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms7995
Maqbool, Z., Farooq, M. S., Rafiq, A., Uzair, M., & Hussain, Q. (2025). Utilization of Climate-Smart Conservation Agriculture Practices for Improved Soil Carbon Sequestration, Greenhouse Gas Mitigation and Sustainable Crop Productivity. Soil Use and Management, 41(2), e70103. https://doi.org/10.1111/SUM.70103
Martínez, J. P., Crespo, C., Cuervo, M. T., Sainz Rozas, H. R., Echeverría, H. E., Martínez, F., Cordone, G., & Barbieri, P. A. (2020). Cultivos de cobertura: propiedades físicas secuencias de cultivos con predominio de soja: efecto sobre indicadores de calidad física del suelo. Cienc. Suelo (Argentina), 38(2), 224–235.
Ministerio de Ambiente y Energía. (2019). Plan Nacional de Descarbonización 2018-2050. https://cambioclimatico.minae.go.cr/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/PLAN-NACIONAL-DESCARBONIZACION.pdf
Mohammed, S., Hassan, E., Abdo, H. G., Szabo, S., Mokhtar, A., Alsafadi, K., Al-Khouri, I., & Rodrigo-Comino, J. (2021). Impacts of rainstorms on soil erosion and organic matter for different cover crop systems in the western coast agricultural region of Syria. Soil Use and Management, 37(1), 196–213. https://doi.org/10.1111/SUM.12683
Montenegro-Gómez, S. P., Nieto-Gómez, L. E., & Giraldo-Díaz, R. (2022). Efecto de prácticas agroecológicas en la conservación del suelo de la Zona de Reserva Campesina de San Isidro, Pradera, Valle del Cauca. Entramado, 18(2), 8002. https://doi.org/10.18041/1900-3803/entramado.2.8002
Morales-Rojas, E., Chávez-Quintana, S., Hurtado-Burga, R., Milla-Pino, M., Sanchez-Santillán, T., & Collazos-Silva, E. M. (2021). Macrofauna edáfica asociada al cultivo de maíz (Zea maíz). Journal of the Selva Andina Biosphere, 9(1), 15–25. https://doi.org/10.36610/j.jsab.2021.090100015
Muñoz, M. J., & Monasterio, B. (2024). Influencia de la cobertura vegetal en la escorrentía superficial: un estudio experimental. Revista Nothofagus, 9(1), 33–41. https://revistanothofagus.ulagos.cl/index.php/nothofagus/article/view/90
Narbona, C., Riechmann, J., Herrero, Y., Herrera, J., Barricarte, G., & Lallana, M. (2023). Perspectivas ecologistas sobre el tema de nuestro tiempo. Pensamiento al margen. Revista Digital de Ideas Políticas, (12), 24–49. https://digitum.um.es/digitum/handle/10201/133404
Nerva, L., Sandrini, M., Moffa, L., Velasco, R., Balestrini, R., & Chitarra, W. (2022). Breeding toward improved ecological plant–microbiome interactions. Trends in Plant Science, 27(11), 1134–1143. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.TPLANTS.2022.06.004
Nnanguma, K. A. (2026). Assessing the Impact of Soil Erosion on Rural Livelihoods and Food Security in Support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). ASEAN Journal of Agriculture and Food Engineering, 5(1), 1–10. https://www.ejournal.bumipublikasinusantara.id/index.php/ajafe/article/view/874
Pelchor Chicaiza, J. S., & De la Fuente de Val, G. (2025). Agroecología y Desarrollo Rural: un enfoque integral para la sostenibilidad agrícola. Perspectivas Rurales Nueva Época, 1–39. https://doi.org/10.15359/PRNE.23-46.4
Pinargote-Yepez, M., Guevara–López, S., & Rosero, M. (2024). Análisis de los Consumidores y Marketing Sostenible: Una Perspectiva hacia la Responsabilidad Ambiental y Social. Revista Publicando, 11(41), 75–83. https://doi.org/10.51528/RP.VOL11.ID2401
Pinto, P., Fernández Long, M. E., & Piñeiro, G. (2017). Including cover crops during fallow periods for increasing ecosystem services: Is it possible in croplands of Southern South America? Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 248, 48–57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2017.07.028
Ponce, J. P., Siliquini, O. A., & Fernández, R. (2020). Cover Crops as Predecessor of Pumpkin Crop in the Semiarid Pampa Region. Semiárida Revista de la Facultad de Agronomía UNLPam, 30(2), 51–61. https://doi.org/10.19137/semiarida.2020(02).51-61
Ponyane, P., Dina Ebouel, F. J., & Eze, P. N. (2025). Formation pathways, ecosystem functions, and the impacts of land use and environmental stressors on soil aggregates. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 13, 1628746. https://doi.org/10.3389/FENVS.2025.1628746/FULL
Programa Estado de la Nación. (2024). Informe Estado de la Nación 2024 (Informe Estado de la Nación No. 30). https://estadonacion.or.cr/?informes=informe-estado-de-la-nacion-2024
Programa Estado Nación. (2025). Programa Estado Nación. https://estadonacion.or.cr/capitulo/?doc=IEN2025_cap4
Quijano, L. E. O., Vega, W. N. O., Atencia, J. M., & Torres, K. R. C. (2021). La densidad aparente y el tamaño de agregados del suelo controlan el crecimiento radical de Megathyrsus maximus. Acta Agronómica, 70(4). https://doi.org/10.15446/ACAG.V70N4.88785
Quintarelli, V., Radicetti, E., Allevato, E., Stazi, S. R., Haider, G., Abideen, Z., Bibi, S., Jamal, A., & Mancinelli, R. (2022). Cover Crops for Sustainable Cropping Systems: A Review. Agriculture 2022, Vol. 12, Page 2076, 12(12), 2076. https://doi.org/10.3390/AGRICULTURE12122076
Quispe, S. S., Dávalos, K. M., Sangay-Tucto, S., & de la Cruz, R. C. C. (2021). Use of cover crops for sustainable soil management associated with corn (Zea mays L.) cultivation. Scientia Agropecuaria, 12(3), 329–336. https://doi.org/10.17268/SCI.AGROPECU.2021.036
Rakkar, M., Deiss, L., & Dick, W. A. (2025). Soil carbon storage or sustainable conservation agriculture practices—Which should be our goal? Journal of Environmental Quality, 54(6), 1586–1597. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeq2.70073
Ren, L., Yang, H., Li, J., Zhang, N., Han, Y., Zou, H., & Zhang, Y. (2025). Organic fertilizer enhances soil aggregate stability by altering greenhouse soil content of iron oxide and organic carbon. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 24(1), 306–321. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JIA.2024.05.026
Restovich, S. B., Andriulo, A. E., & Améndola, C. (2011). Introducción de cultivos de cobertura en la rotación soja-maíz: efecto sobre algunas propiedades del suelo. Ciencia del suelo, 29(1), 61–73. https://www.scielo.org.ar/img/revistas/cds/v29n1/html/v29n1a07.htm
Rimski-Korsakov, H., & Lavado, R. S. (2021). ¿Cambian los flujos de nitrógeno en maíz fertilizado seguido por un cultivo de cobertura ante diferentes condiciones hídricas? Do nitrogen fluxes change in fertilized corn followed by a cover crop under different water conditions? Rev. Facultad de agRonomía UBA, 41(2), 138–148.
Scaglione, J., Montico, S., & Montero, G. (2023). Efectos a corto plazo de los cultivos de cobertura sobre propiedades y macrofauna del suelo. Ecosistemas y Recursos Agropecuarios, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.19136/era.a10n2.3645
Schmidt, R., Gravuer, K., Bossange, A. V., Mitchell, J., & Scow, K. (2018). Long-term use of cover crops and no-till shift soil microbial community life strategies in agricultural soil. Plos One, 13(2), e0192953. https://doi.org/10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0192953
Schön, J., Gentsch, N., & Breunig, P. (2024). Cover crops support the climate change mitigation potential of agroecosystems. Plos One, 19(5), e0302139. https://doi.org/10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0302139
Schweitzer, J. A., Juric, I., van de Voorde, T. F. J., Clay, K., van der Putten, W. H., & Bailey, J. K. (2014). Are there evolutionary consequences of plant–soil feedbacks along soil gradients? Functional Ecology, 28(1), 55–64. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.12201
Seitz, D., Fischer, L. M., Dechow, R., Wiesmeier, M., & Don, A. (2022). The potential of cover crops to increase soil organic carbon storage in German croplands. Plant and Soil 2022 488:1, 488(1), 157–173. https://doi.org/10.1007/S11104-022-05438-W
Sieber, P., Böhme, S., Ericsson, N., & Hansson, P.-A. (2022). Albedo on cropland: Field-scale effects of current agricultural practices in Northern Europe. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 321, 108978. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2022.108978
Sinaluisa, F. D., Sinaluisa, F. D., León-Ruiz, J. E., Peralta-Culcay, M. E., & Suárez-Tapia, A. (2022). Valoración de la relación C/N de dos cultivos de cobertura Vicia (Vicia stenophylla) y Centeno (Secale cereale) en tres localidades de la provincia de Chimborazo. Polo del Conocimiento, 7(2), 1683–1695. https://doi.org/10.23857/pc.v7i2.3673
Strickler, D. (2021). The Complete Guide to Restoring Your Soil: Improve Water Retention and Infiltration. North Adams: Storey Publishing, LLC.
Thapa, V. R., Ghimire, R., Acosta-Martínez, V., Marsalis, M. A., & Schipanski, M. E. (2021). Cover crop biomass and species composition affect soil microbial community structure and enzyme activities in semiarid cropping systems. Applied Soil Ecology, 157, 103735. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.APSOIL.2020.103735
Traware, O., Zhang, Y., Wang, L., Hopke, P. K., & Muluneh, M. G. (2025). Carbon footprint of agricultural pesticides on main crops in China from 2011 to 2023. Journal of Environmental Management, 394, 127605. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JENVMAN.2025.127605
Úbeda Rivera, J. S., & Delgado Dallatorre, Y. (2018). La infiltración del agua en los suelos y componentes artificiales y materia orgánica que se utilizan en ellos para la agricultura. Rev. iberoam. bioecon. cambio clim., 4(7), 889–896. https://doi.org/10.5377/ribcc.v4i7.6299
Uhaldegaray, M. G., Fernández, R., Kloster, N., & Quiroga, A. R. (2024). Cultivos de cobertura en sistemas ganaderos: producción de biomasa y efectos sobre el suelo. Semiárida: Revista de la Facultad de Agronomía UNLPam, 35(1), 77–86. https://doi.org/10.19137/semiarida.2025(1).77-86
Valdés, Y. B., Galán, Á. L., & Lizazo, I. C. (2021). Las arvenses como hospedantes de microorganismos en un agroecosistema de sucesión Zea mays L.-Phaseolus vulgaris L. Acta Agronómica, 70(2), 133–140. https://doi.org/10.15446/ACAG.V70N2.95601
Varela, M. F., Fernández, P. L., Rubio, G., & Taboada, M. Á. (2011). Cultivos de cobertura: efectos sobre la macroporosidad y la estabilidad estructural de un suelo franco-limoso Cover crops: effects on soil macroporosity and soil structural stability in a silt loam soil. Ciencia del suelo, 29(1), 99–106. https://www.scielo.org.ar/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1850-20672011000100011
Verzeaux, J., Alahmad, A., Habbib, H., Nivelle, E., Roger, D., Lacoux, J., Decocq, G., Hirel, B., Catterou, M., Spicher, F., Dubois, F., Duclercq, J., & Tetu, T. (2016). Cover crops prevent the deleterious effect of nitrogen fertilization on bacterial diversity by maintaining the carbon content of ploughed soil. Geoderma, 281, 49–57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2016.06.035
Vidal Morant, M., Scheid, S. M., du Mortier, B., van Haren, C., de Wit, A., & Hijbeek, R. (2026). Agronomic constraints limit the climate change mitigation potential of winter cover crops in Europe. European Journal of Agronomy, 172, 127844. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EJA.2025.127844
Villagra-Mendoza, K., Brenes-Cano, D., & Gómez-Calderón, N. (2023). Efecto del balanceo de cargas en los ejes de tractores agrícolas sobre la eficiencia de labranza y las propiedades físico-mecánicas de un suelo vertisol. Agronomía Costarricense, 47(1), 101–121. https://doi.org/10.15517/rac.v47i1.53968
Vukicevich, E., Lowery, T., Bowen, P., Úrbez-Torres, J. R., & Hart, M. (2016). Cover crops to increase soil microbial diversity and mitigate decline in perennial agriculture. A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 36(3), 36–48. https://doi.org/10.1007/S13593-016-0385-7
Wang, G., van der Putten, W. H., Klironomos, J., Zhang, F., & Zhang, J. (2025). Steering plant-soil feedback for sustainable agriculture. Science, 389(6758), eads2506. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.ads2506
Wong, K. M., Griffiths, M., Moran, A., Johnston, A., Liu, A. E., Sellers, M. A., & Topp, C. N. (2024). Cover crop cultivars and species differ in root traits potentially impacting their selection for ecosystem services. Plant and Soil, 500(1–2), 279–296. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-023-06431-7
Yaguache Ordóñez, L. A. (2022). Humedad y almacenamiento de agua en el suelo en cuatro tipos de cobertura vegetal. Ciencia y Tecnología, 15(1), 19–24. https://doi.org/10.18779/cyt.v15i1.539
Yu, T., Mahe, L., Li, Y., Wei, X., Deng, X., & Zhang, D. (2022). Benefits of Crop Rotation on Climate Resilience and Its Prospects in China. Agronomy, 12(2), 436. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12020436
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Note: This abstract contains an incorrect copyright due to technical issues. Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms: Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal
All journal contents are freely available through a CC BY 4.0 license.
CC BY 4.0 is a Creative Commons: you can copy, modify, distribute, and perform, even for commercial reasons, without asking permission, if you give appropriate credit.
Contents can be reproduced if the source and copyright are acknowledged according to the Open Access license CC BY 4.0. Self-storage in preprint servers and repositories is allowed for all versions. We encourage authors to publish raw data and data logs in public repositories and to include the links with all drafts so that reviewers and readers can consult them at any time.
The journal is financed by public funds via Universidad Estatal a Distancia and editorial independence and ethical compliance are guaranteed by the Board of Editors, UNED. We do not publish paid ads or receive funds from companies.
Follow Us on Facebook
