Impacts of cover cropping and organic amendments on soil physical quality under temperate climate

As sustainable farming practices gain prominence in response to climate change, this review synthesizes current research on the effects of cover cropping and organic amendments on soil physical properties in temperate agricultural systems. Drawing from peer-reviewed literature published between 1991 and 2024, we examine impacts on soil bulk density (BD), saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks), wet aggregate stability (WAS), available water capacity (AWC), penetration resistance and soil organic carbon (SOC) content. The data collated show that cover cropping generally improves soil structure and organic matter content, enhancing WAS by 9–80% and AWC by 10–11%, while reducing BD by 3–5%. Organic amendments like compost and manure show similar benefits, with manure application increasing SOC content by 11–50% in European studies. However, effects vary with amendment type and application rate. While these management practices offer significant potential for improving soil physical quality, their efficacy is highly dependent on soil type, climate and specific implementation strategies. Long-term field studies are needed to elucidate the cumulative impacts of these practices across diverse agroecosystems and to develop site-specific recommendations. This review identifies critical knowledge gaps and future research directions to optimize the use of cover crops and organic amendments for enhancing soil physical properties and agricultural sustainability in temperate regions.