Choice of green manure: facts and myths

Green manures are in the spotlight and are a fixed value in the construction plan. A lot is therefore said and written about green manures and mixtures of green manures, unfortunately not always with good substantiation.

An overview of some important facts and myths about mixtures of green manures.

Mixtures versus single green manures
Facts:

• A mixture can provide better ground cover & more above-ground biomass
• A mixture can combine binding and retention of minerals

fables:

• Harmful nematodes get lost in mixtures and therefore do not multiply:

Various studies have shown that the presence of a host plant in a green manure mixture, even a very small percentage, can lead to a significant increase in nematodes. Harmful nematodes know where to find their host.

• Mixtures stimulate soil resilience, so that harmful nematodes are suppressed:

Although green manures increase soil resilience, this does not outweigh the nematode propagation in the presence of host plants. Various studies have shown that sowing a green manure mixture containing one or more host plants can lead to substantial nematode multiplication, resulting in loss of yield in the subsequent crop:

Advice: know what is going on in your soil and base the most important cultivation goal of your green manure on this: improving the soil (organic matter and structure) or restricting/combating nematodes. Here you will find a handy selection filter >>

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