RESOURCE: The Periodic Table of Cover Crops

ATTRA's latest publication, The Periodic Table of Cover Crops, by Cody Brown, is a visual tool for producers interested in utilizing cover crops on their farms or ranches. The overall layout of the cover crop selection tool is meant to mimic the organized structure of the periodic table of elements. This table is meant to be an easy-to-use, handy reference to help land stewards find the most suitable cover crop plants to help achieve their soil health goals. There are eight data points for each plant within its square on the periodic table: plant name, function, root type, plant structure, crude protein, life cycle, biomass per pound of seed, and carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratio. This table also includes three criteria that determine the plant’s location on the chart: seasonality (warm vs. cool season), plant type (grass, legume, or broadleaf) and water demand (low vs. high water needs).