Conclusion of green manuring and benefits

Conclusion of green manuring

1. Green manures are potentially an expensive way to build fertility in protected systems
2. With rotation planning and market consideration this cost can be reduced
3. More research is needed to measure tangible benefits.
4. Other strategies may further improve viability. Eg. Under-sowing, mobile structures, making compost from field green manure cuttings.

Links to prepare your own Green manure

Quick mix green manure

 

Summer N-Fix green manure

 

Winter N-Fix green manure

 

 

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Quick Mix green manure : How to have your own green manure to maintain soil fertiity

There are three types of Green manuring depending on your needs, Namely

1. Quick Mix – 2-3 month non-leguminous mix, fast growing, weed suppressive and reasonably drought tolerant.
2. Summer N-Fix – 3-4 month, 2 clovers, requires weed control and inoculant, good potential for N and OM
3. Winter N-Fix – 5-6 month, requires weed control, good before hungry summer crops.

Quick Mix

Buckwheat                    (4g/m²)

Ameranth                      (0.3g/m²)

Phacelia                        (1.2g/m²)

Sow anytime from April – Aug

Broadcast buckwheat separately.

Perhaps mix sand with small ameranth/phacelia seed to assist even sowing.

 

Can be incorporated from 6 weeks >

 

Buck wheat

• Fast Growing
• Shades out weeds
• Attracts beneficial insects
• Phosphate accumulator
• Will germinate well in decomposing crop debris
•  Slow to form viable seed

 

 

Green Amaranth

• Fast growing
• Drought resistant
• Large woody plant if allowed to mature = possible N lock-up
• Will not seed in long days
• Buy as ‘grain’

 

 

Phacelia

• Fast growing
• Shades out weeds
• Flowers attract beneficial insects
• Soft tissue = rapid breakdown
• Cut before seed set

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After 4 weeks cut all the plants and spread out on the raised bed and fill with soil and leave it for few days to decompose. After decomposing you can plant your crops.

 

Summer-n-fix green manure cultivation is explained in the tommorrow's post

 

Looking forward for your support and queries!

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Green Manure for soil fertility management and its benefits

Green manuring is a practice of ploughing or turning into soil undecomposed

green plant material for the purpose of improving physical structure as well as

the fertility of the soil. It increases the availability of plant nutrients that

contribute to the yield of the crop.

 

 

The microbial activities are enhanced as the fresh organic material acts as the nutrient source for the diverse soil flora and fauna. The structure of heavy, light and sandy soil is considerably improved

and unproductive lands can be converted into fertile ones by green manuring. In hilly areas, green manuring prevents soil erosion on sloppy lands by providing very good soil cover.

 

Green manure crops are quick growing legumes and grasses that are ploughed into the field, mulched on the top of soil and used as composting material. Amongst the green manure crops sunhemp and daincha are outstanding in biomass production. It is essential that there should be sufficient moisture in the soil when the green manure crops are ploughed into the soil to facilitate the microbial activity.

 

Benefits of Green Manuring :

1. Green manures, in the case of legumes, fix nitrogen and contribute to farm nitrogen needs.
2. It  protect and enhance the soil’s biological activity by providing nutrition for the soil organism.
3. It aerates the soil, consequently improving the soil structure.
4. Green manure crops cover the soil in between successive grain crops, thus protecting the soil against wind and water erosion.
5. Green manure crops reduce soil compaction.
6. Green manure crops provide a habitat for pollinators and other beneficial insects. 

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