Multispecies cover cropping promotes soil health in no-tillage cropping systems of North Carolina

Moving agricultural production systems toward a greater level of soil health is needed for sustainability. Conservation utilizing no or minimum tillage are an important step forward, but enhancing carbon (C) inputs with diverse cover crops and facilitating biologically active nitrogen (N) cycling also needed. Summer cash-crop systems, particularly in the warm-humid region southeastern United States, may benefit from multispecies winter cropping if sufficient biomass were produced. We implemented research demonstration project 15 counties North Carolina during 2015 to 2019 assess its effect on surface-soil properties. Winter crop was variable among locations, exceeded 3,790 kg ha–1 one-third trials. Nitrogen contained aboveground 60 upper third Of 30 properties measured each site-year (n = 31) at depths 0 5 cm, soil-test biological activity, C mineralization 24 days, total N, Mehlich-III phosphorus (P) potassium (K) most consistently affected when comparing either single-species cropping. Despite relatively short duration evaluations (i.e., mostly one two years), we able elucidate that has potential improve conditions region. Soil-test activity demonstrated living nature sensitive conservation management. The support hands-on farmer adviser network encouraged success.