Green Manuring

The method of incorporating green leafy matter directly into the soil is called Green Manuring. Green  Manuring helps improve soil quality in the following ways:

• Increases organic content of soil
• Increases nutrient availability
• Improves the tilth of soil
• Restricts growth of weeds
• Helps in pest control
• Increases biological activity in the soil.

Green manure crops can be grown either before or along with the main crop. Growing of leguminous  green manure crops increases nitrogen availability in the soil. Green manure crops act as a reservoir of nutrients. These nutrients are released in the soil when they are ploughed in. Some on the commonly grown green manure crops are : Crotolaria juncea (Sun hemp), tephrosia purpurea (Wild indigo), Vigna radiata (mungbean), Vigna mungo (Urd), Sesbania aculeate (Dhincha), Leucaena Leucocephala (Subabool), etc.

How to use green manure in the soil?

Green manure crops are directly ploughed into the soil about 2-3 weeks before the main crop. To get maximum benefit from green manure crops, it is important to plough them in before they begin to flower or fruit. In the case of trees, the leaves and tender branches are cut and then ploughed into the soil. Green Manuring is an easy method of improving soil structure and fertility. Since the crop is grown right where it is utilized the costs are also minimal.

Rotational Manuring

In view of the great importance of the organic manure in ameliorating soil activity, their periodic use in cultivable lands should be a regular practice, However, on account of poor adoption of green manures and composts, most of the farmers either miss or very much delay their addition. To overcome such a problem, rotational or phased-out system of Manuring can be successfully practiced to replenish organic matter. The rotational system consists of Manuring can be successfully practiced to replenish organic matter. The rotational system consists of planned treatment of one-half or one-third of the field with the available manures every year in a regular sequence . By extending this practice to the remaining land during the subsequent two or three years, each field at the farm will receive organic matter treatment regularly at an interval of two or three years. This rotational system of Manuring needs to be included in the integrated nutrient management of the farm for the long term management of soil activity to ensure sustained production.