DEVELOPING SOIL HEALTH INFORMATION TO ENCOURAGE FARMERS ADOPTION OF COVER CROPS INTO VEGETABLE CROPPING SYSTEMS IN SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS

The major goals of the study will be: 1)to evaluate the effects of winter cover crops on soil water, soil organic carbon, mineral nitrogen, and soil microbial indicators of soil health in vegetable cropping systems that include cover crops, 2) toprovide evidence-based information on soil health improvement in vegetable cropping systems to support adoption of cover crops by growers, and 3) to train undergraduate students in research methodology in soil and plant science research, 4) to inform the public and our clientele made of vegetable growers and limited resources farmers on our findings and encourage use of cover crops in their farming operations..