Over winter cover crops provide yield benefits for spring barley and maintain soil health in northern Europe

A three-year field experiment investigated the potential yield benefits and soil effects from over winter cover crops in Scotland, U.K. Brassica composition of significantly increased grain nitrogen (N) concentration following spring barley crop. The with was outweighed by costs thus without subsidy (Ecological Focus Area) payments there decreased profitability for Cover crop were mostly neutral on properties, but surface shear strength lower than stubble control. This indicates that even direct drilling will loosen soil. varied their effect slug populations all cases numbers below treatment thresholds. No detected total nematode earthworm abundance or organic carbon concentration. study can improve cereal production a region short growing season no negative impact health agronomic sustainability.