Figure 15.8. Cover crops enhance the drying of a clay soil. Without cover crops (left), evaporation losses are low after the surface dries. With cover crops (right), water is removed from deeper in the soil, because of root uptake and transpiration from

1
high transpiration rates
low evaporation
dry surface layer prevents moisture losses
from deeper layers
soil dries at greater depths because of water
uptake by roots
depth of tillage
Figure 15.8. Cover crops enhance the drying of a
clay soil. Without cover crops (left),
evaporation losses are low after the surface
dries. With cover crops (right), water is removed
from deeper in the soil, because of root uptake
and transpiration from plant leaves, resulting in
better tillage and traffic conditions.