a cover crop established after harvesting the main crop and is used primarily to reduce nutrient leaching from the soil profile
A crop which grows quickly and makes use of space which is not available to grow a longer-season crop. A catch crop may be grown in the period after one crop matures and the next goes into the bed, or in the space between plants which grow to a large size, but do not do so very quickly, so that the space in between plants would otherwise be left empty. Use of a catch crop not only makes more efficient use of the space available, but may also have other advantages, such as protecting the soil from erosion by weather, keeping it cool, and helping to reduce weeds.
A crop grown temporarily on land that will eventually carry a crop of different species, in order to maintain the productivity or prevent the erosion of the land prior to the establishment of the main crop. ( BCFT).
Crop utilizing land between two longer term crops
In agriculture, a catch crop is a fast-growing crop that is grown simultaneously with, or between successive plantings of a main crop. For example, radishes that mature from seed in 25-30 days can be grown between rows of most vegetables, and harvested long before the main crop matures. Or, a catch crop can be planted between the spring harvest and fall planting of some crops.