When a cover crop is terminated, the fresh residue is broken down by microbes in the soil. These microbes use N and other key nutrients found in the cover crop residue as fuel sources for the break-down process. However, if there is not enough N in the residue to complete the process, microbes will use N from the soil instead.

There are many variables for growers to consider when they’re implementing cover-crop mixes into their no-till rotation — including mix design, carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratios, cash-crop goals, termination strategies and biomass management.