Winter rapeseed as green manure: cultivation features and application
Green manure plants are used as natural, living fertilizers. They quickly gain green mass, enrich the soil with organic elements and improve its structure. Among the wide variety of winter crops green manure Rapeseed rice is especially popular.
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Description of the plant
Rapeseed rape is a fodder and melliferous crop that improves soil properties and increases productivity. Belongs to the Cruciferous family. The plant reaches a height of 125-135 cm. The leaves have a light green tint. They are jagged and slightly dissected, without pubescence.
The leaf blade reaches 9-11 cm in length and no more than 8 cm in width. The leaves have monopodial branching. The inflorescence is collected in brushes and on one plant their number is 8-14 pieces. The rapeseed flowers are yellow and small in size. The seeds have a yellow-brown tint. The growing season is about 256 days. There are several varieties of rapeseed: Gorlitsa, Veronica, Zlata, Iskra, Zolotistaya, etc.
The main advantages of planting winter green manure:
- Promote better snowball formation over plants
- Root system helps retain essential nutrients and not be washed away with meltwater
- They create a kind of mulch that protects the ground from freezing
- The green mass protects from the spring sun and cold
Unlike other types of green manure, winter rapeseed is characterized by cold resistance and rapid ripening. The yield of rapeseed is lower, but this green manure has less demanding conditions for soil quality.
Agricultural technology for growing rapeseed
Green manure is grown without care. Sowing is carried out in early September in an ordinary way, when the entire harvest has already been harvested. The seeds are deepened by 3-4 cm. Before and after sowing the seeds, the field must be rolled with a special roller. If the crops were harvested early, then the seeds are planted twice.
If the soil is dry, then before sowing green manure seeds you need to water it. Planting should be done in the area where it is planned to sow cultivated plants in the spring. The plant grows well in slightly acidic and neutral soil.
The green mass begins to be removed during the formation of buds. “Live” fertilizers should be left on the surface and not covered into the soil. A thick layer of mulch promotes rapid overheating. In addition, the soil will be prepared for the planned plantings. After harvesting the green manure, you can begin planting the main crop in 20-30 days.
It is recommended to alternate green manure from year to year. You cannot sow plants that belong to the same family as the planting crop. If rapeseed was grown on the site, then beets or cabbage cannot be planted.
Plants that form a group of the same family are capable of transmitting various diseases to each other. It is important to prevent seed contamination, otherwise weeds will grow instead of green fertilizer. Green manure does not need digging. The rapeseed is cut using a flat cutter or a cultivator. These rules and tips need to be remembered when growing winter green manure.
The benefits of green manure
Can be used as green fertilizers. The rapeseed decomposes in the soil, as a result of which it is replenished with humus and organic matter. In addition, this green manure loosens the soil, saturates it with essential microelements, improves its composition and increases moisture capacity. Green manure crop in organic farming allows you to restore soil fertility
In addition, the plant forms dense grass and does not allow weeds to grow. Green manure improves the vital activity of soil microorganisms and, after decomposition, serves as food for them.
Grass cut in spring is used to feed livestock. When planting different families of fertilizers, the beds are filled with various useful substances. Rich green mass will significantly increase soil fertility. In addition, winter rapeseed will restore the soil after erosion and reduce the number of weeds on the site.
Green manure is an excellent food for various microorganisms. As a result, bacteria and worms make the soil better. When growing winter green manure, you can significantly improve soil fertility and increase yield.
Video about when is the best time to plant green manure to improve soil health:
