cover crop

noun

: a crop planted to prevent soil erosion and to provide humus

Examples of cover crop in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Plant a cover crop in the empty beds. Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Sep. 2025 Harmless Harvest measured soil conditions on regenerative farms and conventional ones, and found maximum soil temperatures were five degrees Celsius lower where cover crops were present, while soil moisture levels doubled. Esha Chhabra, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025 Red clover can make a drought- and shade-tolerant lawn alternative, but it is more often grown as an annual winter cover crop and then tilled into the soil as green manure. Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 11 Aug. 2025 Additionally, the cover crops also help prevent frost damage, which is another risk with unstable weather patterns. Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 10 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cover crop

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cover crop was in 1899

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cover crop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cover%20crop. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

cover crop

noun
: a crop planted to prevent soil erosion and to provide humus

More from Merriam-Webster on cover crop

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