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The Impact of Adopting Cover Crops and No-Till Systems on U.S. Soil Organic Carbon

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  • Chen, Le
  • Yu, Edward
  • Rubin, Hannah
  • Fu, Joshua S.
  • Rejesus, Roderick

Abstract

This study examines the impact of certain soil management practices, including the adoption of cover crops and no-tillage, on soil organic carbon (SOC) levels in the United States (U.S.). Using a novel county-level panel data set with information on SOC levels and remotely sensed cover crop and no-tillage acreage for 16 states from 2005 to 2019, we estimate linear panel fixed effect econometric models to investigate the impact of these conservation practices on SOC. Preliminary results suggest that counties with higher adoption of no-tillage practices have statistically higher SOC levels. However, the effect of cover crop adoption on SOC is statistically insignificant during the study period. These findings suggest that no-tillage may be an effective practice for improving SOC, while cover crops may require longer time horizons or additional complementary practices to achieve a significant impact. Results from our empirical analysis provide new evidence on the relationship between conservation practices and SOC, offering valuable insights for policymakers and farmers considering the adoption of these practices to improve soil health and sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Le & Yu, Edward & Rubin, Hannah & Fu, Joshua S. & Rejesus, Roderick, 2025. "The Impact of Adopting Cover Crops and No-Till Systems on U.S. Soil Organic Carbon," 2025 AAEA & WAEA Joint Annual Meeting, July 27-29, 2025, Denver, CO 361059, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:aaea25:361059
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.361059
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