Description of practice

Green manure or catch crops are rotation crops that are ploughed into the soil or spread on it rather than being harvested. They provide nutrients and organic matter for the subsequent crop. Growing green manure is crucial for maintenance or improvement of soil fertility.

Examples of how to use green manure Further information
(see Note below)

AMP67 01

Tancy Phacelia

Tancy Phacelia is grown as a green manure. It is an annual species native to drylands, and adds organic matter, nitrogen and other nutrients to the soil while at the same time decreasing weeds.

 

»WOCAT technology 3219

AMP67 02

Mexican Sunflower

Leaves of the Mexican sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia) are used as a green manure. The sunflower grows along roadsides or farm boundaries and its leaf has a high nitrogen and phosphorus content.

 

»WOCAT technology 948

AMP67 03

Sesbania

Sesbania is grown as a green manure. It is a versatile species primarily used between rice crops or as an intercrop in transplanted rice. It enhances soil structure and soil fertility.

 

»WOCAT technology 2483

AMP67 04

Sorghum

Sorghum is used in green house cultivations as a green manure in crop rotation (e.g. with tomato plants). It aims to reduce pest cycles and soil borne diseases while improving soil structure and nutrient content.

 

»WOCAT technology 1246

AMP67 05

Green manure in orchards

Nitrogen-fixing green manure species are planted around orchard trees. This is an ecological option to maintain and enhance soil fertility.

 

»WOCAT technology 1019


Note: Most of the Further information links are to a full description of the example in the WOCAT database. However sometimes the link may be to similar practices or a research paper. Occasionally the link is to a commercial product in which case it should be understood that this does not imply any endorsement of the product by iSQAPER.

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