Code A08 Year of Issue none Sector Agriculture The complete description of the NWRM a8_-_green_cover.pdf Summary Green cover (including cover crops or catch crops) refers to crops planted in late summer or autumn, usually on arable land, to protect the soil, which would otherwise lie bare during the winter, against wind and water erosion. Green cover crops also improve the structure of the soil, diversify the cropping system, and mitigate the loss of soluble nutrients. Illustration(s) Orchard with green coverSource: Gonzalo Delacámara’s presentation, NWRM Workshop 1 (Spain) Possible benefits with level Benefits Level BP2 - Slow runoff High BP5 - Increase evapotranspiration Medium BP6 - Increase infiltration and/or groundwater recharge Medium BP7 - Increase soil water retention Medium BP8 - Reduce pollutant sources Low BP9 - Intercept pollution pathways High BP10 - Reduce erosion and/or sediment delivery High BP11 - Improve soils Medium BP14 - Create terrestrial habitats Low BP17 - Absorb and/or retain CO2 Medium ES3 - Natural biomass production Low ES4 - Biodiversity preservation Low ES5 - Climate change adaptation and mitigation Medium ES6 - Groundwater/aquifer recharge Medium ES7 - Flood risk reduction High ES8 - Erosion/sediment control High ES9 - Filtration of pollutants High PO2 - Improving status of physico-chemical quality elements Low PO3 - Improving status of hydromorphology quality elements Medium PO4 - Improving chemical status and priority substances Low PO5 - Improving quantitative status Low PO6 - Improving chemical status Low PO7 - Prevent surface water status deterioration High PO8 - Prevent groundwater status deterioration Medium PO9 - Take adequate and co-ordinated measures to reduce flood risks High PO10 - Protection of important habitats Low PO11 - Better protection for ecosystems and more use of Green Infrastructure High PO12 - More sustainable agriculture and forestry High PO14 - Prevention of biodiversity loss High Case study(ies) Holter-Hammrich Area - Flood Protection and Nature Conservation, Germany No Tillage Field Trials in lower Austria Cover Crops and No-Tillage in an Olive Grove (Andalusia, Spain) Full Context Pathway(aka Context) Default view Area(aka Level or Site) ALL Crosslinks Pair Record Freezing winter cover crops Destination Context NSWRM(Sections) - Default view - ALL - 7461 Crosslink Type Proximity with Pair Record Permanent grass cover in vineyards Destination Context NSWRM(Sections) - Default view - ALL - 7468 Crosslink Type Proximity with Pair Record Grass or stubble in areas prone to flooding and erosion Destination Context NSWRM(Sections) - Default view - ALL - 7488 Crosslink Type Proximity with