Cover crops are used in arable rotations to protect the soil between cash crops (e.g. wheat, barley). Cover crops need to be removed before cash crops can be planted, and this is commonly done by spraying environmentally-harmful herbicides. Reading University conducted a large-scale field trial to test whether using cover crops that die naturally in the frost is better for earthworms, spiders, and beetles, and associated ecosystem functions (e.g. soil compaction). The aim is to design and test the ecological benefits of cover crop mixes that can be removed with minimal herbicide use. Amelia will take us through the project and what we’ve learned from this collaborative experiement that was co-designed with 15 farmers, LEAF, and Oakbank.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/spiders-earthworms-and-beetles-the-impacts-of-cover-crop-frost-tolerance-tickets-734806966417