cover crop

noun

1. a crop, usually a legume, planted to keep nutrients from leaching, soil from eroding, and land from weeding over, as during the winter.

cover crop

noun

1. a crop planted between main crops to prevent leaching or soil erosion or to provide green manure

Word History and Origins

Origin of cover crop¹

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

The couple, who live in Cerne Abbas, struck deals with several owners of permanent pasture land, but were only able to expand their operation after securing grazing of winter cover crops on arable farms.

From BBC

They've also weaned off of chemical fertilizers and planted cover crops.

From Salon

There’s the crawling vines of the beans, the cover crop of the squash grown below, and the shade being produced by the cornstalks.

From Los Angeles Times

Like many larger farms, she plants cover crops in fields that would otherwise be bare between planting season, along with no-till practices.

From Seattle Times

Building housing in city centers, planting cover crops and thinning forests could be key strategies for reducing emissions.

From Los Angeles Times