Organic peanut production is not widely practiced in Texas, yet the state is responsible for supplying the majority of organic peanuts in the US. While it can be a profitable endeavor due to consumer demand, obtaining the required USDA organic certification necessitates farmers to implement a 3-year transition period, often resulting in yield reductions.

One of the goals of organic farming is to enhance soil organic carbon and nutrient cycling, a practice encouraged by the USDA through the use of cover crops. Research has shown that different cover crops can have varying impacts on soil health, potentially influencing the timeline for observing these changes.

This study examined soil health in plots under conventional and recently transitioned organic management using four cover crop treatments (rye, radish, rye/vetch mix, and rye/vetch/radish mix) and a conventional fallow. The study hypothesized that under conventional management, cover crops would increase microbial activity compared to winter fallow. Additionally, cover crop mixes were expected to have greater microbial activity than single-species treatments, and organic management was expected to result in increased activity and decreased yields compared to conventional management.