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Nitrate leaching beyond the root zone can increase water contamination and decrease crop available N. Cover crops (CC) used in spite of fallow are an alternative to reduce nitrate contamination, because reducing drainage and soil mineral N accumulation. CC can improve important characteristics in irrigated land as water retention capacity or soil aggregate stability.

In irrigated areas where cover crop establishment can be assured, consequent soil or nutrient conservation could increase sustainability of cropping systems. Replacing bare fallow with cover crops may increase sustainability by enhancing soil aggregate stability, water retention capacity or controlling nitrate leaching. Nevertheless, adoption of cover crops increase evapotranspiration and reduce water percolation beyond the root systems; therefore, it could lead to salt accumulation in the upper soil layers. This study was conducted during four years to determine the effect of replacing bare fallow by a cover crop on soil salt accumulation and salt leaching in an irrigated maize production system.