Summer N-Fix : second type of green manure to maintain soil fertility

Summer N-FIx

1. Sweet clover/crimson clover 50/50.
2. Sown in 10” rows with earthway seeder radish/leek disc (= about 2g / m2 ).
3. Use wheel hoe when clover is 3-4”.
4. Flail mow and incorporate at 10 weeks, or cut to allow regrowth
5. Can be undersown with Quick Mix when hoed to increase bulk

Sweet Clover

1. Fast growing N-Fixer
2. Relatively quick to germinate
3. Extensive root system
4. Rapidly nodulates when inoculant is used – advised!
5. Tall growing, competative

Crimson Clover

1. Fast growing N-Fixer
2. Relatively quick to germinate
3. Good amount of foliage
4. Good short term N-fix potential
5. Easy to destroy
6. Will regrow from cut.

After 10 weeks cut down and use as the 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

 

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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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Biological or organic approaches for Pest and Disease Management

 

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Liquid manure for Organic Pest management to control pest as well as weed management

 A variety of plants (weeds) which have pesticidal value can be used. Plants
which have strong disagreeable odour are ideal for making this preparation
 
Materials required

1. Plants like Parthenium, Lantana, Vitex, Eupatorium, Artemesia, Stinging nettle etc., - 3 kg
2. Cattle dung - 3 kg
3. 20 litre capacity plastic bucket
4. Water – 20 litres

Method

1. Collect 3 kg of plants (leaves and tender parts) of plants which have pesticidal activity. Chop them into small pieces and put into 20 litre bucket.
2. Add 3 kg of cattle dung into the barrel and fill it up with water.
3. The barrel is stirred every day for 7 days and then stirred once a week for the next 3 weeks. The preparation will be ready in 30 days.
4. The concentrated solution is diluted ten times in water and used as a foliar spray.
5. These sprays are very efficient in managing a variety of pests.

Precautions  

1. The liquid manure has to be diluted ten times before spraying on the crop otherwise it scorches the plant.
2. The solution has to be sieved through a cloth or gunny bag before spraying to avoid blockage of nozzles.
3. The efficacy of the solution is up to one month and has to be used within that period.

 

And also check out our other  ABCD  farming  posts given below:

Introduction to Organic Farming

Must know: Necessity of Soil testing and types of soil test

must know about the Raised Bed Farming and Benefits

Process of Mulching and Advantages of Mulching in Agriculture

Liquid manure for Organic Pest management to control pest as well as weed management

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Process of Mulching and Advantages of Mulching in Agriculture

Process of Mulching and Advantages of Mulching in Agriculture

 

Mulching is a method of covering the soil with a thin layer of biomass. For
mulching, leaves, bark, nut shells, weeds, grasses, wood chips, silage, paper,
pine and conifer needles, paddy or wheat straw, rice husk, coir dust, saw dust,
banana and sugarcane leaf trashes etc which are available in the region can
be used.
 

The benefits of mulching are to prevent the loss of water by evaporation and

transpiration, keep down weeds due to soil solarisation, dampen temperature
fluctuations, increase soil moisture storage and facilitate uniform distribution of
moisture in the soil horizon. It reduces the runoff and soil losses, prevents
crusting and soil compaction, and reduces blowing and beating action of water
and wind. Mulches modify the micro-climate, alter the environment of soil
microbes, enhance soil flora and fauna activity, modify soil moisture regimes
and properties associated with it and soil temperature in the root zone,
12 improve rooting environment and soil productivity. Water use efficiency can be
doubled with mulching, frequency and intensity of irrigation can be reduced
drastically.
 

For mulching one hectare area of any agricultural crop about 4-5 tons of the
biomass is required. In most of the agricultural crops, mulches should be
applied uniformly after the first weeding which generally occurs after 2-3
weeks of sowing/transplanting.

Mulching is also very useful in horticultural crops as it reduces the water
requirement by reducing the evapo-transpiration. In most of the perennial
crops like apple, pears, plums, mandarins, walnuts and fruit crops fallen
leaves of the same plant can be used as mulch.

Benefits of Mulching

1. Acts as storehouse of nutrients.
2. Improves soil structure.
3. Enhances the soil exchange capacity.
4. Increases the infiltration of water and prevents hard pan formation.
5. Acts as a buffer during rapid changes in soil alkalinity, acidity and salinity.

And also check out our other  ABCD  farming  posts given below:

Introduction to Organic Farming

Must know: Necessity of Soil testing and types of soil test

must know about the Raised Bed Farming and Benefits

Process of Mulching and Advantages of Mulching in Agriculture

Looking forward for your queries and support for us.

 

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