Green Manure Crop Seed Supply
Benefits of Green Manure Crops:
* Increase organic matter, earthworms and beneficial micro-organisms.
* Increase the soil’s available nitrogen (particularly legumes) and moisture retention, while assisting in reducing nutrients leaching.
* Stabilises the soil- less erosion.
* Assists in bringing deep minerals to the surface & breaking up claypans.
* Encourages beneficial insects.
* Improves water, root and air penetration in the soil.
* Smothers weeds
* Can disrupt pest and disease cycles.
* Some green manure crops e.g. Mustard, can have an anti-nematode effect.
Seed for leguminous green manure crops such as cow peas, clovers, medics and vetch should be inoculated with Rhizobium bacteria before sowing. This helps the crop stablish good levels of root nodulation and nitrogen fixation. This is a small additional cost and can be organised prior to the seed being delivered. The biggest downside to growing green manure crops is that they do not provide the grower with an immediate cash income, though the long term benefits are evident. It is important that flowering crops should be dug-in just before flowering and cereals before producing grain heads, this is to ensure against undesirable seed banks from forming. Crops will decompose in 4 – 6 weeks in the warmer months, but may take longer in Winter. Planting Season is a guide only.
