Sustainable Agriculture: Soil and Cover Crops
Abstract
The products produced in agricultural lands and the production methods used show diversity specific to each region. Many parameters such as social structure, climate, soil structure, water availability in rural areas cause the diversity of products and production methods. It is important to conduct studies on recognizing, protecting and improving soil, which is the most important ecosystem that provides the cycle of life. In order to continue our civilization, we need to switch to more sustainable production methods and give importance to the protection and improvement of species and habitats. In addition to the vegetation in the soil, many different vital activities ensure the continuity of the soil. Additionally, the soil provides sustainability to living life by transforming many substances that may be harmful to the lives of living things. Cover crops are plants grown to increase soil fertility, prevent soil erosion, enrich and protect soil, increase nutrient and water availability and soil quality. Cover crops contribute to sustainability by providing multifaceted benefits to soils used for agricultural production. Evaluation of the condition of the soils, identification of problems in agricultural soils, understanding the importance of protecting the soils, introduction of soil protection and improvement methods used in agriculture, theoretical and practical information on cover crops and soil improvement have been compiled in this study.
