cover crop

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Cover Crop

Definition: A cover crop is a type of plant that is grown mainly to protect and improve the soil. Farmers plant cover crops not to harvest, but to prevent soil erosion (the wearing away of soil), enhance soil health, and add nutrients to the soil, which can help future crops grow better.

Usage Instructions:

• As a noun: You can use "cover crop" to describe the plant itself. For example: "The farmer planted a cover crop to protect the soil during winter."
• When discussing farming practices, "cover crops" can be mentioned in the context of sustainable agriculture.

Example:

• "After the main harvest, the farmer sowed a cover crop of clover to enrich the soil."

Advanced Usage:

In more advanced discussions about agriculture and environmental science, you might see "cover crops" mentioned in the context of crop rotation, biodiversity, and soil conservation practices.

Word Variants:

• Cover cropping (noun): The practice of planting cover crops.
• Cover-cropped (adjective): Describing land that has been planted with cover crops.

Different Meanings:

While "cover crop" specifically refers to agricultural practices, the word "cover" has other meanings in English: - As a verb, "to cover" means to place something over something else (e.g., "to cover a table with a cloth"). - As a noun, "cover" can also mean a protective layer or something that conceals.

Synonyms:

• Green manure (when cover crops are tilled into the soil).
• Soil cover (used in a broader sense to describe any material that protects soil).

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

While there aren't specific idioms or phrasal verbs related directly to "cover crop," here are some related terms that you might find useful: - "Cover for someone": This means to provide an excuse or support for someone. - "Cover up": This means to hide or conceal something.

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Noun

1. crop planted to prevent soil erosion and provide green manure