Showing posts with label winter n-fix. Show all posts
Showing posts with label winter n-fix. Show all posts

Monday 16 February 2015

Conclusion of green manuring and benefits

2/16/2015 08:12:00 am  , , , ,  No comments

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
 
 
 
 


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Winter N-Fix : third type of green manuring to maintain soil fertility

2/16/2015 08:04:00 am  , , ,  No comments

Winter N-Fix
  1. Sow as for Summer N-Fix but use 1002-14 disk for beans/small peas
  2. Using 20% annual rye helps as a row marker and to fill out the tares
  3. Hoe just before tares start to ‘wander’
  4. Can be undersown with phacelia late Feb, to add volume.
  5. Good option to follow and/or precede Toms, cuc, peppers etc.
 Tares / Vetch
  1. Excellent late or Winter sown
  2. The best option for N-fixing before Summer crops
  3. Deep rooting
  4. Dense foliage
 
after 4 weeks you can cut it down and use it as green manure.
 
Looking for your Support and Queries !!!!
 


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Friday 6 February 2015

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

2/06/2015 08:38:00 am  , , , , , ,  No comments

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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