Overseeding One Year Leys Sainfoin Lucerne Red Clover Leys White Clover Leys Long Term Leys Herbal Leys Root Crops Green Manures OELS Game Cover Parkland Horse & Pony Conventional: Wild Flowers Lawn Order Online
or Call 0800 252211 |
|
|
Organic Green ManuresOrganic Seed mixtures which add organic matter and improve soil structure |
Nothing improves soil more than adding organic matter. We all know this and yet we continue to disregard the need for action. Each year a crop uses between 2-5% of the soils organic matter. We continue to apply inorganic fertilisers which provide major crop nutrients but no organic matter.
What is Soil Organic Matter? Soil organic matter is the decaying remnants of plants (and animal) life. It contains essential plant foods such as nitrogen and phosphate. Green manure crops provide organic matter once they are incorporated into the soil. Some are rich in nitrogen and decompose quickly e.g. clovers. Others like grasses breakdown more slowly and have a longer term effect on the soil. Combining these two types of plant together will provide maximum benefit to soil structure. 
Green manuring increases organic matter. Organic matter is important as it sticks soil particles together to form soil crumbs (aggregates). These crumbs are essential for good root growth and they also make the soil much easier to cultivate. Additionally, aggregate formation enables rainwater to infiltrate the soil and as there are more spaces formed in the soil it also holds more water. In other words, the soil is less prone to run off and retains more water for crop growth. EU Commission Soil Strategy There is concern at EU level regarding low levels of soil organic matter and soil erosion. It is assumed by many that cross compliance payments will become dependant on new soil friendly agricultural practices in the future. 
A green manure is a crop grown with the intention of benefiting the next crop. These are sown, grown and mowed and finally ploughed or cultivated back into the soil. Some crops such as legumes fix N into the soil. Others mop up available nitrate from the soil and release it over many months after incorporation which is especially good for wheat or brassica crops. Both N fixers and lifters add organic matter to the soil. Green manures fit between cash crops. They can be sown for a summer, over a winter or to get the most effect, grow a grass and red clover mixture for one or two years. Green manuring is an old technique which has been used for thousands of years. In fact the ancient Greeks found out that growing (nitrogen fixing) beans gave a significant advantage to next crop. Nitrogen Fertiliser, It's a Gas Since the Second World War the use of cheap nitrogen fertiliser has been promoted. The main fossil fuel used for nitrogenous fertiliser is gas. The cost of gas has increased substantially and the cost of fertiliser has risen by over 400% in the last couple of years. The future unpredictability in prices will increase the case for nitrogen accumulating green manures. 
Red Clover
 N Fixer. The best clover for N fix, soil structure and weed supression. Sow between March and September. Lasts for at least two years and will make silage. Sowing rate 15kg per hectare ORGANIC SEED £6.90 per kg
White Clover
 N Fixer. A low growing clover for undersowing, N fixation and weed suppression. Often mixed with yellow trefoil. Sow between March and September. Sowing rate 7kg per hectare ORGANIC SEED £8.50 per kg
Crimson Clover
 N Fixer. Annual legume sown after harvest by mid September for winter sheep keep. Will flower if left until May. Sowing rate 15kg per hectare ORGANIC SEED £6.90 per kg
Sweet Clover
 N Fixer. Biennial. Fast to establish from late sowings. Strong rooting plant for soil structure improvement. Must be effectively destroyed to avoid volunteers. Sowing rate 15kg per hectare ORGANIC SEED £5.90 per kg
Vetch
 N Fixer. Annual. Excellent over-winter green manure ideal for late autumn sowing. When left until May produces 200kgN/ha. Sowing rate 75kg per hectare ORGANIC SEED £2.45 per kg
Persian Clover
 N Fixer. An annual for short term use. Can be sown in spring or autumn. Will grow well on lightly acidic and clay soils. Best used in mixtures with grass. Can be foraged. Sowing rate 10kg per hectare ORGANIC SEED £9.80 per kg
Yellow Trefoil
 N Fixer. A low growing annual ideal for undersowing to spring cereal to fix N and supress weeds. Broadcast in May after cereal established. Sowing rate 8kg per Hectare. NON-ORGANIC SEED £7.45 per kg
|
Fertility Builder 1-2 Yr Mixture
Ref. MIXFBORG 65% Organic Grow this mixture of red and white clover with
perennial ryegrass to improve soil fertility and
structure. To realise its full potential it should be grown
for at least one full year before incorporation. Red
clover fixes up to 300 kg N/ha which is made available
in the form of nitrate and is released rapidly after
incorporation. To delay the release of nitrogen, clover
should be mixed with grass.
The grass is higher in carbon and acts like a sponge, holding the N for longer. This is especially important for autumn sown crops such as winter wheat where the highest demand for for N can be six or seven months after the green crop has been incorporated. A mixture also offers more weed competition and removes the risk of a single species failure. White clover is included for its ability to improve soil structure. Regular topping, ideally with a flail mower, will be necessary. The first topping will be required in May, followed at monthly intervals until growth slows in August. After incorporation a minimum of three weeks should be allowed before sowing the next crop. These seeds need a fine and firm seed bed. They can be broadcast or shallow drilled but no deeper than 10 mm.
2.65 kg certified MILVUS red clover
0.50 kg certified ABERHERALD white clover 5.85 kg certified CALIBRA ORGANIC tet. per. ryegrass 9.00 kg per acre (22.5 kg/ha)
Humus Builder Soil Structure Improver
Two-Four Year Mixture Ref. MIXHBORG 65% Organic Sown either in the spring for mid-summer grazing or after cereals for autumn/early winter use. This is a fast growing mixture capable of producing up to 45 tonnes per hectare with a dry matter content of 10% in approximately 10-12 weeks.
1.90 kg certified RAJAH ORGANIC red clover
2.10 kg certified MILVUS red clover 0.50 kg certified PUNA chicory 3.00 kg certified NIVA ORGANIC cocksfoot 7.50 kg per acre (18.75 kg/ha)
Summer Quick Fix
Ref. MIXSQFORG 65% Organic The purpose of this mixture is to build soil nitrogen. It is fast growing and should be sown into warm soils from May - July. After only ten weeks the mixture will be ready for incorperation. Broadcast or shallow drill.
30% certified ASTA ORGANIC mustard
20% certified SANTANTONIO ORGANIC crimson clover 15% certified ALTASWEDE red clover 15% commercial ORGANIC sweet clover 20% certified LASER persian clover Sow at 15kg per hectare £6.11 per kg
Ryegrass/Vetch Over-Winter Mix
Ref. MIXWWVORG 65% Organic A mixture of Westertwold Ryegrass and Vetch is economical and effective and can be used for over-winter soil management. Sowing should take place by late September. The mixture can be incorporated in April or May. (For livestock farms it may be left and made into silage in late May, see 'One Year Leys' on the main menu to the left.)
Westerwold Ryegrass will regrow after cutting so can be left through the Summer for further cutting or mulching. To minimise the rish of ryegrass seed being shed it is adviseable to cut before the seed heads are visible.
9.00 kg certified MENDOZA westerwolds ryegrass
18.00 kg certified EARLY ENGLISH ORGANIC vetch Sow at 10kg per acre (25kg per hectare)
Rye/Vetch Over-Winter Mix
Ref. MIXRYEVORG 65% Organic Grwoing a N lifter and fixer together is the best way of improving soild over winter. Cereal Rye and Vetch are excellent companions and are usually very relaible. The mixture can be sown from mid September until mid October. Incorporation is carried out from February until late April. Please order this seed early as rye seed is usually combined, cleaned and sown in the same season. Available from September
50.00 kg certified MATADOR ORGANIC rye
18.00 kg certified EARLY ENGLISH vetch Sow at 75kg per acre (187.5kg per hectare)
Yellow Trefoil/White Clover Intercrop Mixture
Ref. MIXICORG 65% Organic Intercropping is the growing of a green manure at the same time as a cash crop. This mixture can fix 125kgN/ha and is a low growing, weed supressing combination. It may be sown under Spring cereals or maincrop brassicas. Seed should be sown either on the surface or lightly harrowed and rolled in. Sowing should take place in late Spring.
35% certified VIRGO PAJBJERG yellow trefoil
65% certified SONJA ORGANIC white clover Sow at 7kg per hectare £8.14 per kg
Westerwolds Ryegrass
 N Lifter. Effectivley seeks out and mops up nitrate in the soil. Used as a companion to legume green manures. Sowing rate 30kg per hectare ORGANIC SEED £3.70 per kg
Mustard
 N Lifter. Fast growing weed supressor. Reduces wireworm population. Not usually winter hardy. Sow between May and August. Sowing rate 30kg per hectare ORGANIC SEED £3.70 per kg
Phacelia
 N Lifter. Fast to establish summer cover. Large root mass to improve soil. Good on light soils. Sow from May. Destroy at flowering or it will set seed. Sowing rate 10kg per hectare ORGANIC SEED £11.80 per kg
Rye
 N Lifter. Very good over-winter nitrogen scavenger. Especially good when mixed with vetch. Sow from mid September until November. Sowing rate 185kg per hectare ORGANIC SEED £0.98 per kg
|
| Need advice? Please call 0800 252211 |