Permaculture Research Digest
Cover crops in perennial agriculture (#journal)
Perennial agriculture is prone to declining productivity due
to negative plant-soil feedback. Although cover crops
are already used in these systems for other reasons, their capacity to
influence soil biota is unexploited. This article examines the role of plant
diversity and identity on plant-soil feedback. We conclude that (1) increasing plant diversity
increases soil microbial diversity, minimizing the proliferation of
soil-borne pathogens; (2) populations of beneficial microbes can be
increased by increasing plant functional group richness, (3) brassicas suppress fungal
pathogens and promote disease-suppressive bacteria; (4) native plants
may further promote beneficial soil microbiota; and (5) frequent
tillage, herbicide use, and copper fungicides can harm populations of
beneficial microbes. Non-crop vegetation management is a viable and cost-effective
means of minimizing crop decline in perennial monocultures.
Perennial agriculture is prone to declining productivity due
to negative plant-soil feedback. Although cover crops
are already used in these systems for other reasons, their capacity to
influence soil biota is unexploited. This article examines the role of plant
diversity and identity on plant-soil feedback. We conclude that (1) increasing plant diversity
increases soil microbial diversity, minimizing the proliferation of
soil-borne pathogens; (2) populations of beneficial microbes can be
increased by increasing plant functional group richness, (3) brassicas suppress fungal
pathogens and promote disease-suppressive bacteria; (4) native plants
may further promote beneficial soil microbiota; and (5) frequent
tillage, herbicide use, and copper fungicides can harm populations of
beneficial microbes. Non-crop vegetation management is a viable and cost-effective
means of minimizing crop decline in perennial monocultures. 
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