** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** IN THE SOUTHERN US, THE ADOPTION OF COVER CROPS IS CRUCIAL FOR ADDRESSING SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES IN CORN-FALLOW SYSTEMS. HOWEVER, WINTER ANNUAL COVER CROPS OFTEN STRUGGLE TO GROW ENOUGH BIOMASS DUE TO WEATHER CONSTRAINTS AND THE SHORT GROWING SEASON BEFORE CORN PLANTING, LIMITING THE BENEFITS OF COVER CROPPING.TO ADDRESS THIS, THIS PROJECT IS FOCUSED ON EVALUATING A LIVING MULCH SYSTEM THAT INCORPORATES COOL-SEASON PERENNIAL CROPS, ALLOWING CORN TO BE PLANTED DIRECTLY INTO THE LIVING MULCH. THE HYPOTHESIS IS THAT USING A PERENNIAL LEGUME COVER CROP AS A LIVING MULCH CAN SEAMLESSLY INTEGRATE WITH CURRENT CORN MANAGEMENT PRACTICES. THIS INTEGRATION IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE COVER CROP BIOMASS, IMPROVE NITROGEN RECYCLING, AND PROVIDE OTHER ECOSYSTEM SERVICES.OUR MULTI-INSTITUTIONAL COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH AIMS TO ASSESS THE FEASIBILITY OF A LIVING MULCH SYSTEM IN THREE SOUTHERN US STATES (TEXAS, MISSISSIPPI, AND FLORIDA). IT WILL COMPARE THE BIOMASS PRODUCTION OF PERENNIAL COVER CROPS IN LIVING SYSTEMS TO TRADITIONAL ANNUAL COVER CROPPING. IT WILL ALSO EVALUATE POTENTIAL YIELD TRADE-OFFS IN CORN GROWN WITHIN THE LIVING MULCH SYSTEM AND DETERMINE THE NITROGEN BENEFITS OF THE LIVING MULCH COMPARED TO TRADITIONAL FALLOW-CORN AND ANNUAL COVER CROP-CORN SYSTEMS.THIS IS A BENCHMARK STUDY TO TEST THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH A SYSTEM IN THE SOUTHERN US. IF SUCCESSFUL, IT WILL OPEN SEVERAL AVENUES FOR FURTHER RESEARCH, INCLUDING SYSTEM COMPATIBILITY, OPTIMIZED FERTILIZER PROGRAMS, INTER AND INTRA-SPECIFIC COMPETITION, IRRIGATION STRATEGIES, PEST MANAGEMENT, AND MORE.