Agronomy and Physiology of Tropical Cover Crops

ABSTRACT Cover crops are important components of a sustainable crop production system. They can be planted with plantation crops such as cacao, coffee, banana, rubber, and oil palm or in rotation with cash crops. Their use in a cropping system is mainly beneficial for soil and water conservation, recycling of nutrients, control of pests and improved microbiological activities. However, beneficial effects depend on the selection of appropriate cover crops and their management. Hence, understanding their agronomy and physiology is fundamental for their use in sustainable cropping systems. Growth and development of a crop (physiological aspects) is determined genetically as well as influenced by environmental variables. This information can be useful in improving production of these crops and, consequently, their incorporation in farming systems, wherever it is possible. There are hundreds of tropical cover crops and, therefore, it is not possible to include all of them in one article. Hence, selected cereals and legumes are included. Keywords:: legume cover cropscereal cover cropssoil and climatic requirementsplant morphology ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We thank Dr. C. D. Foy for his excellent review of the manuscript and valuable suggestions in improving its content. Notes 1S = Sandy, CL = Clay loam, SL = Sandy Loam, L = Loam, C = Clay. 1Nutrient rate corresponds to N, P and K, respectively.