Perennial Groundcovers Offer New Approach to Year-round Soil Protection

By Andi Anderson

Perennial groundcovers are being studied as a new way to improve soil health in corn and soybean production systems. In many traditional row crop fields, soil remains bare for long periods of the year.

This increases erosion, nutrient loss, and soil degradation. Perennial groundcovers are designed to solve this problem by keeping living roots in the soil year round.

Unlike annual cover crops, which must be planted and removed every year, perennial groundcovers are planted once and managed to last for multiple seasons. They grow alongside corn or soybeans rather than replacing them. The main goal is to protect the soil without reducing crop yields.

Perennial groundcover systems rely on careful separation between the crop and the groundcover. Crops are planted into narrow strips that are managed for production, while the groundcover grows between rows. This approach helps limit competition for water, nutrients, and sunlight. When managed properly, it can protect soil, reduce erosion, improve trafficability, and maintain strong yields.

One challenge with perennial groundcovers is competition. If the groundcover grows too aggressively during early crop development, yields can decline. If it is suppressed too much, the plant may not survive long enough to provide benefits. For this reason, plant selection and management timing are critical.

Not all plants are suitable for these systems. Ideal groundcovers grow shallow roots, tolerate equipment traffic, recover after suppression, and enter dormancy during key crop growth periods.

These traits reduce competition while allowing the plant to persist.

Two grass species are commonly studied. Kentucky bluegrass forms a dense cover that protects soil and controls erosion but requires careful chemical suppression.

Radix hybrid bulbosa naturally enters spring dormancy, reducing early competition, though it produces less biomass and ground coverage.

Perennial groundcovers also offer nutrient management benefits. Living roots help reduce nitrate leaching, improve water infiltration, limit runoff, and increase soil organic matter over time. These benefits are especially important in fields receiving manure or fertilizer.

Overall, perennial groundcovers represent a modern effort to redesign row crop systems. By combining careful plant selection with precise management, researchers hope these systems can improve resilience while supporting productive and sustainable agriculture.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-sasiistock