Water use efficiency is one of the two key limiting variables in crop output, the other being plant nutrient availability. With a growing worldwide population, farmers will need to take drastic efforts to meet rising demand for food and other agricultural products. Only 20% of all farmland is irrigated, but that accounts for 35%-40% of global agricultural production. Investments in irrigation are typically prioritised because of the increased yields possible under irrigated agriculture. However, insufficient water management at both the farm and system levels has become a major cause for alarm in recent years, as a result of numerous irrigation systems failing to meet expectations despite incurring large costs. There has been a significantly lower-than-expected increase in crop output. Utilizing rainwater more wisely and enhancing soil fertility management has the most promise for expanding agricultural outputs like food and other items. Until recently, irrigation practises were almost exclusively used to increase the amount of soil water stored in the root zone to a point where the available soil water never allowed the crop to suffer from water stress throughout the growing season, regardless of the amounts and distribution of rainfall. Farmers continue to over-irrigate in order to stockpile a sufficient supply of water. Many pests can be kept at bay, soil erosion can be reduced, weeds can be smothered, more nutrients and water can be retained, and more. They can boost profitability, cut expenses, and open up entirely new revenue streams all at once. The benefits of cover crops accrue over time, so your investment will pay off for a very long time. Energy price hikes will have a major impact on farm profits in the future. Since the economics of cover crop use are based on nitrogen dynamics (how much N you save or produce with cover crops), fuel costs (the cost of N and trips across the field), and commodity prices, energy prices will certainly impact these factors. However, it is impossible to predict how quickly energy costs will increase as this issue goes to press. The second edition's economic comparisons assumed the continued existence of the pre-2008 economy, with its $2 corn, $0.20 nitrogen, and $0.50 gas prices. As the cost of nitrogen rises, cover crops may become more financially viable, according to some research. Since results from more recent studies are not yet available, we decided to keep some of the previous, high-quality investigations. We know that there are several agronomic benefits to using cover crops, including higher yields, lower nitrogen costs, fewer trips across the field, and more. Each and every agricultural predicament can be remedied with the right cover crop. The goal of this book is to guide you in selecting the best options. Farmers all around the country are beginning to consider the potential benefits of cover crops for the future of their operations. Those who have experienced the benefits and are dedicated to making cover crops work for them are among the most successful. Instead of trying to cram cover crops into an already overburdened system, they are adapting to the unique needs of these crops.
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