Cover crops like millet, sunn hemp, and pigeonpea can help improve the quality of upland rice grown in areas like the Brazilian Cerrado. By planting these cover crops before the rice, farmers can increase straw production, nitrogen levels, and potentially enhance the nutritional value of the rice. Sunn hemp, in particular, can lead to higher rice mass and better milling and head rice yields. Overall, using cover crops before planting upland rice can benefit its development and industrial quality without affecting grain yield.