Mustard (green manure)
Advantages
- Improves soil fertility and conditioning.
- Produces organic nitrogen.
- Improves weed control.
- Protects soil against water and wind erosion.
- Deep rooting enhances soil structure.
- Easy to grow.
- Up to 4 tonne of DM (Green Manure) per ha.
Mustard is a green manure plant which is sown as a catch crop after both wheat and barley, the mustard plant collects the nitrates and nutrients formed in the soil at the end of the season which would otherwise be washed away.
Mustard has a high green productivity and therefore will supply a lot of humus* and organic substance to the soil.
The plant will draw and hold the nutrients from the soil, including nitrogen and will re-supply the soil when the plant has decomposed and mulched in the following spring. Mustards rapid establishment and growth gives excellent ground cover and has a huge benefit in weed control.
*Humus is the stable long lasting remnant of decaying organic material. It improves soil structure and increase water retention. Its nutritive qualities include trace elements and several important organic acids.
Sowing
Variety: Rumba (very late flowering)
Rate: 20-25 kg per ha
Depth: 2-3 cm
Fertilizer: 40-60 kg per ha
Sowing time: July – September
Maintenance
Freezing off of the Mustard plant will occur if it there is an extended frost of 7-10 days. If not the plant should be cut late November into December, the cut Mustard plant should be left on the surface. Then the following spring rotivate or plough the decomposed material into the soil.
MG 200 Winterforage for soil fertility, weed control and nitrogen fixing after cereals.
60% Westerwold
40% Crimson Clover
Advantages
- Excellent Nitrogen fixing properties - (60 – 70kg per ha).
- Improved weed control.
- Improved soil fertility.
- Excellent protein rich silage and grazing - (up to 20% protein).
- Rich rooting system improves soil structure.
- Easy to grow.
This mixture will give excellent ground cover in the winter for improved weed control, as well as a good forage supply with high protein content due to the Crimson Clover. The Crimson Clover will also supply a high rate of nitrogen fixing in the soil improving both soil fertility and conditioning, benefiting future crops.
