Have you ever heard of green manure? This ecological technique for enriching the soil is far from new: in ancient times it was commonly used to combat the depletion of nutrients in the soil. Luckily, it is not as difficult to use as it may initially sound and it is really beneficial.
If you want to learn more about this technique that, luckily, is being used more and more, join us in this interesting practical gardening guide from Ecologist Verde in which we talk about what is green manure and how is it made.
What is green manure and what is it used for?
Green manure is not a fertilizer that we must make to later incorporate into the vegetable garden or garden. It is a technique with which we can enrich the soil helping us with some plant species that help improve soil properties.
When the soil is discovered at the end of a certain harvest or we are simply not working on it for a while, the sun and the elements punish the earth and microorganisms, making it poorer and drier. On the other hand, if we take advantage of the seasons in which we are not growing anything to plant certain species that we will later harvest or allow to dry naturally so that they become incorporated into the soil, we achieve improve its nutrient content, its properties and its ability to support future nutrient-demanding crops.
It is a practice used especially in orchards, when it is necessary to prepare plots of land that are somewhat abandoned or abused, or when we want to prepare the soil for a crop very demanding in nutrients. However, its benefits also extend to gardens and ornamental-type spaces, since flowers are equally or even more grateful for having rich soils.
Types of green manure
There are many types of green manure or different crops that can be used as green manure. Its convenience will depend on the specific details of our climate and soil, as well as the season in which we want to prepare the green manure or the crop that interests us after this.
The most common is to use legumes, due to their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen thanks to its relationship with rhizobia, beneficial bacteria. However, the selection of plants for green manure It is very wide. These are some of the most used:
Fabaceae or legumes
As we have said, these are the most commonly used for their ability to fix nitrogen in the soil. It is common to use vetches, lupins, clovers, beans or peas, among many others.
Grasses for green manure
Grasses tend to give very good results, especially when combined with some legumes. A widely used combination is that of oats and vetch. It is also common to plant Italian rye or ryegrass.
Cruciferous
Crucifers such as turnip, cabbage, rapeseed and mustard are also very good options and the latter, in fact, is one of the most used. This is because it has roots with high branching capacity and rapid growth. Mustard roots spread widely and break up the soil, leaving it looser and finer, which helps its oxygenation and the development of the crop that follows it. In addition, in winter it dries up by itself, so if we plant it at the end of summer or in autumn, it will not even be necessary to mow it. Another advantage of mustard is that it keeps some garden pests at bay.
There are also other cruciferous plants that can be used to prepare and enrich the soil. The Russian comfrey is well known for its great ability to grow and create plant mass. It is widely used in the production of slurry and compost, and even in the production of mulching or mulching.
Buckwheat is a great option when we want to treat very poor soils, and facellia has the ability to attract bees and bumblebees, with all the benefits that this entails.
How to make green compost - tips
When preparing to use this technique, follow these tips for sowing green manure:
- The first thing will obviously be to choose where we will do it. It is about taking advantage empty spaces in the orchard or garden, which then we plan to take advantage of to cultivate something of interest.
- It is also important, of course, to take into account the sowing time. However, here we have much greater freedom than when sowing normal crops, since the green manure only has to grow: it is important that the plant dries out before blooming. This is because legumes and other species accumulate nutrients that they later deplete during flowering. Therefore, as soon as it begins to appear, we will reap our green manure cultivation. It is also possible to plant species that cannot withstand the cold in autumn, so that they dry out naturally when temperatures drop.
- Simply spread the seeds of your green manure crop chosen on the area to enrich. Spread them more densely than usual, since you want the plant cover to be dense, and then cover the seeds with soil or a little compost.
- When the crop has grown and its flowering is near, follow it and shred the remains. Do not pull out the roots, which must remain in the ground to degrade naturally. Afterwards, you can simply leave the shredded remains on the ground or stir it lightly so that they deteriorate sooner. Both methods are equally valid.
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