Do cover crops on the Canadian prairies affect soil nitrogen cycling?

For one of Canada’s most important regions crop production—the prairies—it’s uncertain if cover crops can be successfully integrated into rotations; so, will soil nitrogen (N) cycling influenced to benefit main crops? To address these gaps, we compared a rotation with (CC) vs. without (LR) from 2018 2021 in Saskatoon, SK. The were grown sequence wheat–canola–potato–pea; the included red clover, berseem clover/oat mix, fall rye, and brassica cover. Yield aboveground biomass collected each year analyzed determine yield N use efficiency (NUE). Soil availability was monitored various ways, that is, by assessing pre-plant nitrate, inorganic (SIN) supply rate, potentially mineralizable (PMN). We found influence on dynamics restricted non-growing season where reduced SIN rate nitrate content conventional practice crops. Yet, rotations did not differ NUEs, yields, or in-season dynamics. some evidence diversifying may help system function more like perennial systems terms regulating long run; but had limited impact during three years studied. ensure are effective functional prairies, innovative design approaches needed adapt reach health goals under prairie conditions.