Figure 4

Principal component analysis for 15 different cover crop species divided as grasses (orange shades), legumes (green shades) and creeping plants (blue shades). Red lines represent active variables like (i) evapotranspiration before (UNMW_ET) and (ii) 25 days after mowing (MW_ET_25), (iii) above-ground dry clipped biomass at first mowing event (ADW_MW1) and (iv) total (ADW_TOTAL); (v) diameter class length for very fine (DCL_VF), (vi) fine (DCL_F), (vii) medium (DCL_ M) (viii) coarse (DCL_C) roots; (ix) root length density (RLD) and (x) root dry weight (RDW). Root traits are mean values of 0–20 cm soil depth.