Soil Health and Cover Crops in Midwest Cropping Management Systems - Putting Science into Practice.

Soil Health and Cropping Management Systems go together in agroecosystems.  One tool to help farmers address soil health and environmental degradation is cover crops.  Agricultural systems are leaky systems and need to be regenerated with improved nutrient and soil management.  Cover crops are defined as plants growing during the period between regular grain crop production seasons. Cover crops can add organic carbon, which is critical to building soil health through biological, physical, and chemical contributions.  Cover crops can also scavenge residual nitrogen which is at risk of being lost through leaching or runoff.  Through on-site experience in several agricultural settings, soil degradation is common in the Midwest U.S.  Soil degradation decreases the soil production capability and environmental services.  Specific soils have inherent qualities relating to their physical, chemical, and biological properties. Land managers have the greatest influence on soil health status in agroecosystem settings.  The assessment of soil health and monitoring changes in direction over time is the primary indicator of sustainable land management.  A resilient soil can recover from states of degradation and recover from stress.  The biological component of the soil is a key driver for soil resiliency.  The care and health of the biological component of soils will play a crucial role in improving soil functions.  Understanding soil testing and relating this to soil processes can help communicate information to land managers.  Relating soil processes to land managers who make decisions for stewardship is vital.  This will better enable soil scientists to communicate our science into practice with land managers.