Editing Catch crop (section)

== Soil-water management ==
Catch crops help protect soil against water erosion through its residue which increases soil roughness. The residue serves as a soil surface protection from splash effects as well contributes to lowering the [[surface runoff]]. Certain catch crop species are also able to create biopores by decaying roots which create flow paths in the soil causing an increase of water infiltration. Although during the crop growth they come to deplete soil water some species of catch crops help preserve water once they are killed.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Gentsch |first1=Norman |last2=Heuermann |first2=Diana |last3=Boy |first3=Jens |last4=Schierding |first4=Steffen |last5=von Wirén |first5=Nicolaus |last6=Schweneker |first6=Dörte |last7=Feuerstein |first7=Ulf |last8=Kümmerer |first8=Robin |last9=Bauer |first9=Bernhard |last10=Guggenberger |first10=Georg |date=2022-04-01 |title=Soil nitrogen and water management by winter-killed catch crops |url=https://soil.copernicus.org/articles/8/269/2022/ |journal=Soil |language=English |volume=8 |issue=1 |pages=269–281 |doi=10.5194/soil-8-269-2022 |issn=2199-3971|doi-access=free |bibcode=2022SOIL....8..269G }}</ref>