Catch crop

White mustard grown as catch crop in Poland

In agriculture, a catch crop is a fast-growing crop that is grown between successive plantings of a main crop.[1] It is a specific type of cover crop that is grown between two main crops.[2] This crop is utilized as a way to reduce nitrogen leaching but it also promotes environmental benefits such as fortifying soil structure, retention of water and enhancement of soil biological activity.[3][4] Catch crops revolve around plant species that have short growing seasons, rapid growth, low soil and nutrients requirements to be considered a catch crop.[4]

Catch cropping is a type of succession planting. It makes more efficient use of growing space. For example, radishes that mature from seed in 25–30 days can be grown between rows of most vegetables, and harvested long before the main crop matures. Or, a catch crop can be planted between the spring harvest and fall planting of some crops.

  1. ^ J. A. R. Lockhart; A. J. L. Wiseman (17 May 2014). Introduction to crop husbandry including grassland). Elsevier. p. 111. ISBN 9781483190563. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  2. ^ Malcolm, B. J.; Cameron, K. C.; Beare, M. H.; Carrick, S. T.; Payne, J. J.; Maley, S. C.; Di, H. J.; Richards, K. K.; Dalley, D. E.; de Ruiter, J. M. (2022-04-01). "Oat catch crop efficacy on nitrogen leaching varies after forage crop grazing". Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems. 122 (3): 273–288. Bibcode:2022NCyAg.122..273M. doi:10.1007/s10705-022-10201-9. hdl:10182/14839. ISSN 1573-0867. S2CID 247823075.
  3. ^ Vos, J.; van der Putten, P.E.L.; Hassan Hussein, Muktar; van Dam, A.M.; Leffelaar, P.A. (1998-04-01). "Field observations on nitrogen catch crops". Plant and Soil. 201 (1): 149–155. doi:10.1023/A:1004367530320. ISSN 1573-5036. S2CID 38809611.
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).