Cover Crops and Carbon Sequestration: A Perspective for Desert Soils

Abstract

The nature of agriculture has always been evolving with the needs of the people. As a result of the public’s concern over climate change, conservation strategies like cover cropping have been investigated to note any ecosystem services they may provide, allowing those in the industry to tally their many benefits. On a regional scale, cover crops may improve soil health and quality, additionally contributing to soil conservation; globally, cover crops may aid carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The importance of arid agriculture in this context cannot be overlooked. Many researchers, policymakers, and agricultural stakeholders in the US Desert Southwest have begun to realize that though cover crops may not be suitable for green manuring in the region due to strict water budgets, they may, however, be suitable for use as alternative forage crops to fetch additional economic gains while acting as physical barriers to prevent soil erosion and support beneficial ecosystem services ultimately improving soil health in desert agroecosystems.