Although the terms “cover crop” and “green manure” are often used interchangeably, the two are actually different, but related, concepts. The difference between green manure and cover crops is that cover crops are the actual plants, while green manure is created when the green plants are ploughed into the soil.
A cover crop is a temporary vegetative cover that is grown to provide protection for the soil and the establishment of plants. Many types of plants can be used as cover crops. Legumes and grasses (including cereals) are the most extensively used, but there is increasing interest in brassicas (such as rape, mustard, and forage radish) and continued interest in others, such as buckwheat.
Green manure is created when fresh cover crops are incorporated into the soil. Like cover crops, green manure increases the level of nutrients and organic matter in the soil.
The table below provides links to existing practical information on the use of cover crops and green manures in agriculture.
| Title | Language | Country | Format | Description | Organisation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best4Soils: Green Manure and Cover Crops Practical Informaton | EN | Europe | Video | Different aspects of cover crops and green manures are presented in the video |  |
| Cover Crops: A practical guide to soil and system improvement | EN | UK | Guidance document | Information on the selection and management of cover crop options |
NIAB TAG |
| Opportunities for cover crops in conventional arable rotations | EN | UK | Fact sheet | UK AHDB Cereals and Oils document introducing cover crops and providing case studies. |
AHDB |
| Green Manure and cover crops in organic systems: guide to choosing species | FR, EN, IT | France | Guidance document | A detailed description of each species that can be used to guide farmers choice. |
Organic Farm Knowledge |
| Green Manures - species selection | EN | UK | Fact sheet | Horticulture Development Company factsheet on types of green manures. |
Organic Research Centre |
| A review of the benefits, optimal crop management practices and knowledge gaps associated with different cover crop species | EN | UK | Report | A comprehensive review of cover crops in the UK |
AHDB |
| Short-term green manure strategies for intensive growers | EN | UK |
Videos |
AHDB videos on green manures |
AHDB |
| Sort Out Your Soil: a practical guide to Green Manures | EN | UK | Guidance document | Guide to green manure management and species details |
Cotswolds Seeds |
|
Cover Crop: Farmer experiences |
EN | UK | Real-Life Case Studies | These publications feature farmers talking about their experiences using cover crops |
AHDB |
| Green Manures | EN | UK | Website | Royal Horticultural Society webpage providing cultivating and selecting advice. |
RHS |
| Cover Crop Basics | EN | US | Guidance document | A Cover Crop Guide including information on understanding quality, seed cost, species information and performance as well as recipes for success |
Grassland Oregon |
| Conserving Water with Cover Crops | EN | Germany | Article | Discussion on the consumption of water by cover crops |
DSV Seeds |
| Boosting on-farm soil organic matter with cover/catch crops | EN, IT, ES, PL | Europe | Fact sheet | Fact sheets from the EU SmartSOIL project |
Smart Soil |
| Green manures - effects on soil nutrient management and soil physical and biological properties |
EN
|
UK | Fact sheet | Horticulture Development Company factsheet on the effects of green manures on soils. |
AHDB |
| Cover Crops: Conservation Crops Case Study | EN | UK | Real-life case studies | Features experiences of Hill Farm in Warwickshire as they use cover crops to aid their conservation efforts |
Kings Crops |
| Cover Crops: Green Cover Case Study | EN | UK | Real-life case studies | Features experiences of 4Front Farming in Fife, as they use cover crops aiding sustainable farming practises |
Kings Crops |
| Managing Cover Crops For Soil Health & Yield |
EN
|
UK | Article | Discusses trial results on terminating cover crops and how best to reduce soil disturbance and inputs needed |
Innovative Farmers |
| Using Cover Crops to Improve Soil and Water Quality | EN | US | Fact sheet | Fact sheet covering a review of the benefits of cover crops |
Ohio Line |
| Use of Cover Crops - Practical guide | EN | UK | Practical guide | Concentrates on the benefits of cover crops and how they can help farms adapt to climate change |
FAS Scotland |
| A Guide to Growing Cover Crops | EN | UK | Article | A comprehensive guide on everything cover crop related: benefits, rotations, establishment, destruction, environmental options, species examples, seed rates and prices |
CCC Agronomy |
| How to select the best cover crop species for your farm | EN | UK | Article | Covers different considerations that need to be made when choosing cover crop varieties |
Farmers Weekly |
| Sowing and growing... | EN | UK | Practical guides | Provides information on a range of cover cropping for different situations |
Cotswolds Seeds |
| Green Manures | EN | UK | Website | DAERA information page covering the usage of green manures, composting and using brassicas |
DAERA |
| Short-term green manures for intensively cultivated horticultural soils | EN | UK | Factsheet | AHDB fact sheet on the difficulties of using green manure in intensive vegetable rotations |
AHDB |
| Green manures | EN | UK | Website | Provides key information regarding green manures as a whole topic |
Garden Organic |
| Making the most of green manures | EN | UK | Webinar | Guide to farmers usage of green manures |
Agricology |
| Case study: Green manures with Jonathon Boaz | EN | UK | Case study/video | Provides a farmer's view of how green manures can be used in practice |
Cotswolds Seeds |
