Which practice is primarily used to improve soil quality in agriculture?

Planting cover crops is recognized as a vital practice for enhancing soil quality in agricultural systems. Cover crops, such as clover, rye, or vetch, are grown during periods when the main crops are not in the field. These plants serve several key functions that contribute to improved soil health.

Firstly, cover crops help prevent soil erosion by stabilizing the soil with their root systems, which holds the soil in place and minimizes nutrient loss. They also enhance soil structure, making it more resilient to compaction and improving water infiltration and retention.

Additionally, cover crops contribute organic matter to the soil as they decompose. This organic matter is crucial for the development of soil microbiota, which play a significant role in nutrient cycling and overall soil fertility. By enhancing microbial activity, cover crops can improve the breakdown of organic materials and increase soil nutrient availability to subsequent crops.

In contrast, practices like increased use of pesticides or growing monocultures may detrimentally impact soil quality. Pesticides can harm beneficial microorganisms and disrupt the ecosystem within the soil, while monocultures can deplete specific nutrients, reduce biodiversity, and lead to soil degradation over time. Frequent tilling can result in loss of soil structure and organic matter, leading to compaction and