Which agricultural practice involves planting cover crops to prevent soil erosion, improve soil health, and suppress weeds?

• A. Aquaculture
• B. IPM
• C. Sustainable Agriculture
• D. Cover Cropping

Answer: (D)

Cover cropping is the practice of growing a crop primarily to cover and protect the soil between regular harvests. This living mulch reduces soil erosion from rain and wind, adds organic matter to improve soil structure and moisture retention, and helps suppress weeds by shading the soil and competing for resources. Some cover crops, like legumes, can also fix atmospheric nitrogen, boosting soil fertility when terminated and incorporated back into the soil. While aquaculture, IPM, and sustainable agriculture describe other farming areas, the specific technique described—planting cover crops to safeguard and improve the soil—is cover cropping.