Green Manure

The cultivation of green manure significantly improves the soil health. On the field and in the garden alike, green manure has numerous positive effects on the soil. Due to their root penetration, the plants significantly contribute to achieving a good soil structure and increase the fertility by means of the addition of biomass. Depending on the selected cultivar, various soil properties can be promoted and the quality can be improved.

Deep-rooted varieties help to make nutrients from deeper layers available once again and loosen the soil. Leguminous fruit (clovers, vetches, peas, alfalfa, broad beans) bind nitrogen from the air through their symbiosis with nodule bacteria (rhizobia) and accumulate it in the soil.

Well-developed green manure crops additionally suppress the spreading of weeds and protect the soil from dehydration. Perennials protect the soil very well from eluviation and erosion during the winter period. Moreover, varieties which are not frost resistant may form a protective layer for the soil and can be easily incorporated in the soil during the spring period.

When selecting a green manure, the plant family of the subsequent cultivation has to be kept in mind (crop rotation). This means that no other cruciferous plants such as cabbage, radish or cress should be cultivated after the planting of mustard and that no peas, beans or similar vegetables should be cultivated following the planting of legumes.

In order to prevent an undesired spread or multiplication of the green manure, it is recommended to cut the crops on time before or at the flowering period, but in any case before the seeds ripen.

Art.no.	Variety	Growth and usage	Frost resistance	Restrictions regarding crop rotation	Sowing date	Sowing quantity
Gr1	Buckwheat	undemanding, rapidly growing, rapid soil shadowing, bee pasture	not frost-resistant	independent of crop rotation	End of April - August	600g/are
Gr2	Winter vetch	deep-rooting, enriches the soil with large quantities of organic substance; nitrogen collector	perennial	period of several years before planting peas and beans	August - beginning of October	600-800g/are
Gr3	Phacelia	fast growing, soil shadowing, strong root development, produces a good soil structure; good bee pasture	not frost-resistant (small plants can withstand mild winters)	independent of crop rotation	April - August for flowering; until the beginning of Sep-tember	100-300g/are
Gr4	Summer vetch	good weed suppression, rapidly growing, climbing, intense root penetration; provides the soil with nitrogen	not frost-resistant	period of several years before planting peas and beans	April - end of July	1-1,25kg/are
Gr5	Yellow mustard	fast growing, rapidly covers and intensely roots the soil	not frost-resistant	not before the cultivation of other cruciferous plants (cabbage, cress, radish, rape etc.)	April/May - September	200-300g/are
Gr6	Peavine	good root penetration; for all soils; drought-resistant and oxygen-forming legume	not frost-resistant	period of several years before planting peas and beans	March - September	1,5 - 2kg/are
Gr7	Broad bean/Peavine mixture	in combination binds large quantities of nitrogen; fast growing; leaves a fine, crumbly soil surface	not frost-resistant	period of several years before planting peas and beans	April - September	1,5 - 2kg/are
Gr8	Crimson clover	very fast growing; good weed suppression; intense root penetration; flowers of red colour; good preceding crop effect	frost-resistant	period of several years before planting peas and beans	April - mid-September	300-400g/are
Gr9	Clover grass	for biennial use	frost-resistant	not before the cultivation of legumes	April - September	300-400g/are
Gr10	Alexandrine clover	for multiple cutting and annual cultivation; rapid soil covering; nitrogen-fixing; requires warmth and humidity; bee pasture	certainly frost-resistant	not before the cultivation of legumes	May - end of July	200-300g/are
Gr12	Alfalfa	important nitrogen supplier; forms a deep root system	perennial	not before the cultivation of legumes	March - September	150 - 200g/are
Gr14	Sunflower	high green matter yield, also loosens deep soil layers; leave on the field over the winter as it is a good nourishment for insects, bees and bumblebees	not frost-resistant	period of several years before planting peas and beans	End of February - September	400-800g/are
Gr16	Broad beans	supplies large quantities of nitrogen and provides for an optimum soil condition; recommended as a preceding crop for plants with a high demand for nutrients	not frost-resistant	period of several years before planting peas and beans	End of February - September	1,6 - 2,2,kg/are
Gr17	Red clover	high green and dry matter yields, high quality fodder; nitrogen-fixing; enhances the soil condition	perennial	not before the legumes	March - September	20-25kg/ha
Gr18	Marigold (calendula), mixture	good ground-cover plant; enhances the soil health; makes the soil crumbly; plant which is appreciated by bees	not frost-resistant	independent of crop rotation	March - August	80 - 120g/are
Gr19	Chinese mallow	good ground-cover plant, plenty of leaf mass; takes very well to cutting; large taproots, loosens the soil optimally	not frost-resistant	independent of crop rotation	April-June	100g/are
Gr20	Oil redish	Fast-growing cruciferous plant with strong taproots, loosens soil compaction and activates soil life. Self-seeding must be prevented on right time by mulching. Early sowing provides good nematode control in the soil.	not frost-resistant	not before the cultivation of other cruciferous plants (cabbage, cress, radish, rape etc.)	September	25-30 kg / ha
Gr21	White clover	Perennial, fast-growing, quick-covering green manure plant suppresses weeds, protects the soil from silting up through rain and intensively loosens it through deep rooting. Leaves and roots input improve the soil structure	perennial	not before the legumes	April-October	400-500g/are