Define the term "cover crops."

Cover crops are specifically planted to enhance soil health and prevent erosion, which aligns with the role defined in the chosen answer. These crops provide numerous benefits to the agricultural ecosystem, including improving soil structure, increasing organic matter, and promoting biodiversity. They can protect the soil from wind and water erosion, reduce runoff, and help manage weeds.

Cover crops also play a crucial role in nutrient management by capturing nutrients that might otherwise leach away during fallow periods, thus reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers. This practice is an essential part of sustainable agriculture, as it contributes positively to soil fertility and can improve crop yields in subsequent growing seasons.

The other options refer to various types of crops or their uses that do not accurately describe the primary function of cover crops. Decorative crops do not serve an agricultural function aimed at soil improvement, crops exclusively for livestock feed lack the soil health benefits that cover crops provide, and the seasonal restriction mentioned does not accurately reflect the diverse planting times for cover crops, which can vary depending on local climates and agricultural practices.