Green Manure - A Packet Of Seed Is Better Than A Bag Of Fertilizer
by John Yazo
Cover crops, also know as green manures are a big benefit to your gardens soil. It's not a good practice to leave soil exposed to the weather for long periods of time. Rain impact will break down the soil particles, pores in the soil will clog with the fines, causing poor drainage and the loss of air infiltration into the soil. Exposed soil is also prone to erosion due to surface runoff and the lose of organic matter by washouts.
Cover crops are a great way to avoid these problems. They can be planted at different times of the year for different purposes. There are cover crops that are planted in the winter or summer as green manures and there are cover crops that are planted as living mulches or as a catch crop.Cover crops reduces the germination of weed seeds by shading the ground, roots from cover crops can improve the soil stability while improving the aeration and drainage of the soil.They will also improve the fertility and improve soil structure by not allowing nutrients from being washed from the soil.
The planting of legume cover crops and non-legume cover crops are a great way to add organic matter and nitrogen back into the soil. Along with adding organic matter into the soil it will enhance the microbial activity in the soil which in return will make for a healthier nutrient rich soil that will benefit in the aid of disease and insect problems in the garden.
Crop rotation is another way that cover crops can benefit the soil. With a little careful planning cover crops can be used in your crop rotation practices to replenish the soil with the nutrients and soil structure needed for a specific crop.
Green manures are a simple and beneficial solution to having a healthy and productive garden..
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