Green manures & cover crops: Practical information.
The document provides practical information on the use of green manures and cover crops to improve soil health and control soil-borne diseases. Green manures are grown primarily to be incorporated into the soil to return nutrients and beneficial metabolites, while cover crops are grown to protect the soil by reducing nutrient leaching, erosion, improving soil structure, or suppressing weeds. Both can be used combined strategically.
For nematode management, resistant cover crop species such as Brassica (oil radish, white mustard), marigold, and sorghum varieties are highlighted for their potential to reduce nematode populations, including species like beet cyst nematodes, Pratylenchus, and Meloidogyne. The effectiveness depends on the choice of species and cultivars, and local knowledge and expert advice are recommended to select the best options. Creating a community of practice can support farmers in making informed choices.
Fast-growing species like buckwheat and phacelia are valued for quickly covering the soil surface, suppressing weeds, and supporting pollinators, especially when grown in warm conditions.
The document emphasizes that green manures and cover crops should be established successfully, with proper seed quality, soil preparation, sowing conditions, and possibly irrigation, to realize their benefits. Despite often not providing immediate profit, their positive effects on soil health depend on proper establishment and management. Additional resources and references support these recommendations.
Green manures & cover crops: Practical information. (en)
Number of pages: 2
Target countries: European Union
Key takeaways
- Cover crops and green manures are primarily used as preventive soil management tools
- They have lower immediate efficacy compared to radical methods like chemical soil disinfestation but are valuable for controlling soil-borne diseases through strategic, preventive use.
- Selection of resistant crop varieties is essential for effective nematode control
- Using nematode-resistant species such as oil radish, marigold, and sorghum can significantly reduce nematode populations, and choosing the right cultivar depends on local resistance levels and specific nematode species.
- Fast-growing species like buckwheat and phacelia effectively suppress weeds and cover soil rapidly
- These crops are ideal for summer or early-autumn planting in warm conditions, providing weed suppression and soil coverage, especially where quick biomass generation is needed.
- Proper crop establishment is critical to realizing soil health benefits from green manures
- High-quality seed, good seedbed preparation, suitable conditions, and adequate nutrients or irrigation are necessary; cutting corners on inputs diminishes potential benefits.
- The final use of crops (cover crop vs. green manure) influences their management
- Green manures are incorporated to return nutrients and secondary metabolites to the soil, while cover crops are grown mainly to reduce nutrient leaching, erosion, or weeds.
- Combining cover crop and green manure functions is possible and beneficial
- A crop can first serve as a cover crop for weed control and later be incorporated as a green manure for nutrient input, enhancing overall soil management strategies.
Sources
- Green manures & cover crops: Practical information. - - https://www.best4soil.eu/assets/factsheets/9.pdf
