cover crop

noun

: a crop planted to prevent soil erosion and to provide humus

Examples of cover crop in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The biggest chunk — about $19.5 billion — has breathed new life into subsidies to encourage conservation practices that improve the land, like cutting back on plowing and planting cover crops to sequester carbon in the soil. Lydia Depillis, New York Times, 30 May 2024 Climate-smart agriculture practices such as planting cover crops, practicing no-till and using less fertilizer can reduce emissions associated with corn production. Karina Atkins, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2024 This year, temperatures overall have been mild enough that these cover crop radishes were faring well even into February. Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 28 Mar. 2024 Our Cover Crops for Gardens web page includes more information, including a couple of video demonstrations for terminating cover crops with a tarp or mower. Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 28 Mar. 2024 Planting cover crops, reducing tillage and minimizing fertilizer application are also solutions to other environmental challenges like water pollution from fertilizer run-off that contributes to the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico. Karina Atkins, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2024 Our winter cover crops also provide nesting habitat for ducks. Christopher Marquis, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024 The next version should build off the success of the last by including incentives for farmers and forestland owners to promote regenerative practices, such as cover crops and grazing. Bill Frist, Fortune, 20 Feb. 2024 Farmers worry that planting cover crops could reduce the yield of their primary crop, Hayden said. Journal Sentinel, 28 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cover crop.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cover crop was in 1899

Dictionary Entries Near cover crop

Cite this Entry

“Cover crop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cover%20crop. Accessed 12 Jun. 2024.

Kids Definition

cover crop

noun
: a crop planted to prevent soil erosion and to provide humus

More from Merriam-Webster on cover crop

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