Cultivation of Mixed Summer Cover Crops (Buckwheat, Cowpea, and Teff Grass) In High Tunnels

Cover crops are grown to cover the soil surface. They are planted between main crops or as an alternative to cash crops and provide many benefits ranging from soil erosion control, improved soil fertility, soil health (Reeves, 1994; Wang and Nolte, 2010), and increased biodiversity (Drinkwater et al., 1995). The use of cover crops among small-scale farmers can be challenging due to the limited space, resource, equipment needs, and the nature of operations. In high tunnel production systems, the use of tractors is limited, and growing cover crops requires careful crop selection, termination timing, and management for maximum benefits. High tunnels are plastic-covered structures that provide a partial controlled environment passively heated in winter and ventilated in summer. For environmental protection and control, high tunnels are between the open-field (natural environment) and completely controlled environments in a greenhouse. Compared to a standard greenhouse, a high tunnel is a low-cost structure, often with in-ground production, and low operating costs. This study determined biomass production and shoot mineral composition of mixed summer cover crops (buckwheat, cowpeas, and teff grass) to determine the optimum termination time while minimizing management inputs and obtaining maximum soil health benefits from the cover crops. Recommendations outline how small-scale farmers can grow cover crops in high tunnels.