Why do Oregon farms plant red clover every spring?

5 hours ago

Red clover is a spring cover crop planted on Oregon farms to improve soil health.
It appears red due to high cobalt content, which binds with oxygen, not because of typical plant pigments.
Cobalt in clover has a high affinity for nitrogen, enabling the plant to extract nitrogen from the air (which is 78% nitrogen gas).
Bacteria in the root nodules, enriched with cobalt, convert atmospheric nitrogen into a stored form in the roots.
After a few months, farmers plow the clover back into the soil, providing nitrogen levels comparable to commercial fertilizers.
This process offers a cost-effective, natural fertilizer, enhancing soil nutrients for subsequent crops and reducing the need for synthetic inputs.
Planting red clover is part of sustainable farming cycles, improving soil health during fallow periods.

Hasty Briefsbeta