Green manure facts for kids
A green manure is a special type of crop that farmers grow to make the soil healthier. Instead of harvesting it, they usually plow it back into the ground. This helps the soil in many ways, like making it richer and protecting it.
Green manures do several important jobs for the soil:
- Some green manures, like clover, are legumes. They have tiny bacteria in their root nodules that can take nitrogen from the air and turn it into a form plants can use. This is like giving the soil a natural fertilizer!
- They add lots of organic matter (like plant material) to the soil. This makes the soil better at holding water and allows air to reach plant roots easily.
- The roots of some green manure plants grow very deep. They can bring up nutrients from deep in the soil that other crops with shallower roots can't reach.
- Green manures are also great at stopping weeds from growing. They help prevent the soil from washing away (erosion) and becoming too hard (compaction).
- If farmers let some green manure crops flower, they can provide food for helpful insects that pollinate other plants.
Long ago, farmers used a system called crop rotation where they would leave fields empty (called fallow) to let the soil recover. Growing green manures is a modern way to do something similar, but it's even better because it actively improves the soil.
Types of Green Manure Plants
Many different plants can be used as green manures:
- Winter cover crops like oats or rye are often used.
- Mustard
- Clover
- Fenugreek
- Lupin
- Sunn hemp
- Winter tares
- Winter field beans
- A type of fern called Azolla has been used as green manure in places like southeast Asia.
- Velvet Bean (Mucuna pruriens) was popular in the southern US a long time ago. Today, it's widely used in tropical countries, especially in Central America, where it's a key part of "Slash/Mulch" farming.
Green Manure in Organic Farming
Organic farming focuses on keeping the soil healthy and recycling nutrients naturally. This often involves adding animal manures. But if animal manures aren't available, green manures become super important. They act as a natural way to fertilize the soil and keep it full of nutrients.
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In Spanish: Abono verde para niños
