Water companies fund cover crop study to help farmers refine nitrogen use and protect water quality

Two leading water companies in the UK; Affinity Water and Portsmouth Water are funding an innovative study to understand the rotational and environmental impacts of nitrogen captured by autumn/winter cover crops.

The Nitrogen release from Cover Crops (NiCCs) project, being delivered by ADAS, will focus on the effect that cover crop species choice and different destruction methods have on nitrogen release into the following crop and beyond. The results will be used to underpin advice for growers on the appropriate management of cover crops, both in terms of maximising the nitrogen available to the next crop and minimising long-term nitrate leaching.

The study will compare two cover crop mixes (kindly supplied by RAGT seeds UK) and assess the quantity and timing of nitrogen being released into the soil. Different destruction methods (glyphosate vs. chopping or rolling), will then be used to better understand the potential of growing cover crops without glyphosate. Experiments will be conducted over two years in Hertfordshire and West Sussex.