Legume Cover Crops for Improving Crop and Soil Management in the Southern United States

Abstract

Legumes were an important component of crop rotations in the southern United States before World War II. In the post-war years, however, inexpensive and abundant fertilizer N diminished the role of N-fixing plants in cropping systems. There has been little research since 1960 on winter legumes in terms of their contribution to soil and crop management. Recent escalated costs of fertilizer N manufacture and concern over soil erosion has renewed interest in legumes and their role in cropping systems. Winter legume cover crops may provide significant quantities of fixed N while conserving soil and water resources and sustaining or improving soil productivity. This review presents both old and new information on the role of legumes in improving soil and crop management, particularly in the southern United States.