Dry matter production and nutrient uptake by cover crops in Brazilian agriculture

Abstract In a scenario of global soil degradation, cover crops are increasingly promoted for their benefits to soil health and ecosystem services. In Brazil, adoption remains limited due to technical barriers and scarce accessible data. This systematic literature review compiled information on dry matter production and nutrient uptake of major cover crop families used in Brazilian agriculture, aiming to map research, identify gaps, and provide data to support adoption. From over 1,300 articles screened, 126 studies were selected, yielding more than 1,000 observations of cover crops grown as single species or in mixtures, covering 66 species and 58 multispecies mixes from seven botanical families. Dry matter production ranged from 0.33 to 17.9 Mg ha −1 , with average carbon content of 44.8% and C inputs of 489–2,898 kg ha −1 , decreasing from Poaceae to Brassicaceae . Nitrogen uptake ranged from 17 to 119 kg ha −1 , highest in Fabaceae, while phosphorus and potassium uptake varied, with Poaceae showing the highest values. Root dry matter production was greatest in Poaceae and Fabaceae–Poaceae mixtures, which also had higher root-to-shoot ratios than Fabaceae alone. Meta-regression indicated that multispecies mixes significantly increased dry matter yields, and that climatic and geographic factors—growing degree days, precipitation, and latitude—had stronger effects on biomass than soil texture. These results reveal substantial variability in nutrient uptake across cover crop species and mixtures, providing evidence to optimize species selection and mixture composition for improving soil health and nutrient management in Brazilian cropping systems.