Evaluation of Cover Crops on Soil Moisture Dynamics and Demonstration of Winter Cover Crops in a Conventional Farming Rotation in the Sacramento Valley

Sarah E. Light, Agronomy Advisor, UC Cooperative Extension

Soil moisture measurements are being collected throughout the cover crop and cash crop season for 3 years using soil moisture sensors at three depths in the soil profile. Winter cover crop treatments are purple vetch alone and a purple vetch and cereal rye mixture, planted in a summer annual rotation. This project is funded by the CDFA Healthy Soils Program.