What plants grow naturally on the plot and are they suitable as cover crops?
Here, the question to ask is: do the plants that grow naturally on my plot meet the cover crop criteria? Climbing plants are not an option. Care should also be taken to choose plants that do not compete with the vine for water and nutrients. Consequently, all plant species present on the plot need to be identified.
Quadrat sampling is a method commonly used in ecology to isolate an area for population study. A square of 1 m2 made up of 4 equal sticks is used to mark off a specific area so that the population within it can be counted and identified. It is very easy to set up but is time-consuming and can be subject to errors of judgement.