ADAS webinar recording 'The Nutrient Benefits of Cover Crops' - 23 June 2025

Cover crops can be very effective at protecting and improving soil and water quality by providing soil cover over winter, retaining nutrients that would otherwise have been ‘lost’ via leaching and erosion. For the benefits of cover crops to be fully realised, understanding their crop available nitrogen supply and long-term impact on nitrate leaching and crop performance is crucial. At this webinar, ADAS Principal Soil Scientists Dr Rachel Thorman, Dr Anne Bhogal, and Dr Kate Smith discussed research conducted on behalf of Affinity Water on the impact of destruction method and timing on cover crop nitrogen release. We also shared results from a farmer/ agronomist survey carried out as part of the AHDB ‘Cover crop decision support tool (DST) scoping project’. 0:00 Introduction 3:24 NiCCs 2 - Nitrogen Release from Cover Crops, destruction method and timing 28:20 Nutrient Release from Cover Crops Decision Support Tool Project - Results from online farmer/agronomist survey. 47:39 Questions and Answers