Green manures are herbs grown to improve the structure of the soil, increase its fertility, and destroy fungal diseases. An agrotechnical technique brings tangible benefits if the rules of planting and embedding of green mass into the soil are followed.
Choosing green manure for autumn planting
After harvesting, you need to plant herbs that are cold-resistant, not afraid of frost, and quickly grow green mass. These are plants from the cruciferous family - mustard, rapeseed, rapeseed. You can also plant phacelia, vetch, and buckwheat. Green manures activate the saprophytic microflora of the soil, which enriches the soil with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Saprophytic bacteria are antagonists of fungal infections: late blight, fusarium wilt, gray and black rot. Plant roots loosen the soil, making it water- and breathable. When planting herbs, you need to take into account the rule of crop rotation: cruciferous crops are not planted in beds where you plan to grow cabbage, radishes, radishes, legumes - beans and peas.
Determination of incorporation time
Inexperienced gardeners, trying to grow more green mass, are delayed in processing it. As a result, the grass stems become coarse, which makes it difficult for them to rot; the plants bloom and seed the beds. The optimal time is when the plants reach a height of 20–30 cm (depending on the crop), and begin to form buds.
The basic rule for embedding into the soil
Deep plowing of green manure is wrong. At great depths, plants decompose poorly. Fresh organic matter blocks the way for moisture to flow from the upper layers of the soil. Without access to oxygen, the green mass inside the soil does not rot, but turns sour.
Pre-mowing of green mass
It is wrong to leave green manure before winter without sealing. In this case, the plants do not decompose; some of them begin to grow in the spring. The above-ground part of the plants is mowed using a trimmer or lawn mower without a grass collection tray. The green mass is taken to the compost pit. The root system remaining in the soil improves its structure.
Improving soil fertility
On poor soils, it makes sense not to carry the green mass outside the site. She is mowed down and left in the garden. Under a layer of snow, the grass rots, the remains are dug up in the spring. To speed up the decomposition process, plant residues are treated with EM preparations.
Sealing green manure without using a lawn mower
For summer residents who do not have automated equipment, it is more convenient to carry out the event using a flat cutter or hoe. The root system of green manure is partially trimmed, the grass is planted to a depth not exceeding 8–10 cm. In this case, part of the green mass is buried in the soil, the other remains on the surface as organic mulch.
To perform the work, it is convenient to use Fokin and Strizh flat cutters.
Green manure is an inexpensive and effective way to improve the fertility and structure of the soil, making it lighter and looser. It is especially important to grow herbs after potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers - crops that are often susceptible to disease.Agronomic practices promote soil disinfection.
