Why are ground cover plants underutilized?

Perhaps the greatest challenge facing Brazilian agriculture at the moment is related to the lack of diversity in production systems. The low diversity of agroecosystems is one of the causes of production instability and increased production costs. In the central region of Brazil, the predominant model is based on soybean cultivation in the spring-summer and corn in the autumn-winter, or soybean followed by cotton. Numerous research studies conducted in different regions of Brazil demonstrate the importance of cover crops—or service crops—for the sustainability of agricultural activity. Studies carried out by Embrapa in the northern region of Paraná, for example, leave no doubt about the economic importance of diversifying production systems.

However, despite some growth in more recent times, the use of these plants is still very small compared to their potential to improve the production environment, which would result in greater productivity and stability, especially in years of climatic restrictions. Ensuring production stability is just as important as increasing it.

Worldwide, the topic of "cover crops" is being studied. Between 2020 and 2025, the number of scientific articles published in Brazil on this subject, according to CAPES Journals (accessed on October 30, 2025), was 2.364 in different scientific journals. This raises the question: do we have sufficient knowledge to incorporate cover crops into grain, fiber, and energy production systems in the different Brazilian biomes? Yes, we do. However, we still underutilize these plants, despite the direct benefits they provide to improving and maintaining productivity in various agricultural environments.

Among the main benefits of cover crops, the following stand out: - protection of the soil against the direct impact of rain; - maintenance of soil moisture; - protection against direct solar radiation; - increase in organic matter content, improving soil structure and water infiltration, reducing surface runoff; - stimulation of soil biological activity, essential for ecosystem health; - nutrient cycling and biological nitrogen fixation; - assistance in controlling nematodes and weeds; - among other benefits. Cover crops are indispensable to production systems when seeking conservation agriculture.

Often, specific practices are adopted for particular purposes that could be achieved by cover crops, at a much lower cost and with less fossil fuel consumption. One of the great challenges of modern agriculture is soil compaction, a widely discussed topic that worries producers. In many situations, the compacted layer is not well defined. It is worth noting that, in most cases, compaction is a consequence of the management system adopted. Soil decompaction should not be based solely on mechanical practices; the use of vegetative practices, such as cover crops, is fundamental. In most situations, when these plants are part of the production system, the problem of compaction does not usually appear, or is solved due to the benefits they provide.

Difficult-to-control weeds, such as fleabane, can be managed with cover crop species that provide adequate soil protection, since their seeds need light to germinate. Species from the Fabaceae family, such as crotalaria and pigeon pea, have the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen, benefiting subsequent crops. Within an integrated systems approach, forage species of the genus Urochloa can be used as cover crops and also as pasture for cattle within the crop-livestock integration system. This integration benefits both agriculture and livestock farming, significantly increasing profitability per unit area and the stability of the system. When cultivating more than one cover crop species in consortium, priority should be given to combining different families—for example, grasses and legumes. In the cultivation of multiple species, it is important to adjust the population density to avoid excessive competition, which can lead to the disappearance of some less competitive species.

In summary, there are several possible strategies for diversifying and intensifying production systems, with the aim of increasing profitability, reducing costs, and promoting the sustainability and stability of agricultural production. Based on what has been presented in this article—which is not exhaustive—we have sufficient knowledge to utilize and benefit extensively from cover crops. So, what are the reasons for the low use of cover crops by farmers? We have two likely answers: 1- often the effects of using cover crops will appear in the following year; it is often a medium-term result. However, in some cases the response may be immediate; 2 – either because they are not part of large “packages” containing their seeds, and because they do not produce something that can be commercialized.

*Per Fernando Mendes Lamas, researcher at Embrapa Agropecuária Oeste