DEFINITIONPractice of growing crops (mostly legumes) and ploughing them under the soil when their tops are green.

NOTE: Legumes are the best green manuring crops.

Why legumes are preferred?

They have ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen into the soil.They are readily decomposing crops.They add more organic matter.

Why Green Manuring is Necessary

To add organic matter into the soil To maintain soil fertility level .To improve the structure of soil.To fix atmospheric nitrogen into the soil.

Criteria For Green Manure Crops

Crop should be of short duration.Vegetative growth rate should be high.Produce more biomass.Rapaidly decomposing.Should have Fibrous root system.

Time Of Green Manuring

Mostly practiced in kharif season

High temperature help in rapid decomposition.

Six weeks usually required to complete decomposion.

Incorporation of green manure crops

GREEN MANURE CROPS

GREEN BIO-MASS

(t/ha)

DRY BIO-MASS

(t/ha)

NCONTENT (%)

N (Kg/ha)

Cow pea 9-10 3-4 1.4-1.5 140-150

Mustard     3.5  

Pigeon pea 9-10 5-7    

Susbania   1.5-4 4.3 250-360

Soybean   5-7.4   310

Sunhemp 5-19 5.5-6 1.7 108

Sweet clover 12 6 2  

PROPERTIES OF GREEN MANURE CROPS

Benefits Of Green Manuring

Increase in organic matter Increase in soil fertility.Reduction of inorganic fertilizer useIncrease in food qualityImprovement in soil propertiesIncrease in water holding capacity.

Increase in porosity.Improvement in soil structure Toxic effects of heavy metals are reducedpH of soil is reduced.Cation exchange capacity of soil is increased Leaching losses are reducedMicrobial activity is increased.

Major Green Manure Crops

oJantaroGuaraoSesbaniaoBerseem oLucernoSunhemp