Rapeseed as green manure: benefits and application rules, when to sow and dig

The use of rapeseed as green manure helps to get a complex effect. This green fertilizer saturates the soil with organic elements and favorably affects its structure. Also, the plant successfully copes with harmful insects and diseases. Therefore, it is often used on large plantations and in personal subsidiary plots. In order for rapeseed to give the desired effect, it is important to carry out planting work correctly and follow the rules for caring for it.

The advantages and disadvantages of this plant

It is difficult to overestimate the benefits of rapeseed when used as green manure.

This culture has a number of advantages. These include the following:

1. Effective weed control. Green manure roots prevent unwanted vegetation. A small amount of canola should be planted between rows of cultivated plants.
2. Elimination of harmful insects. This effect is achieved due to the essential oils that are present in the plant. Also, these components help to avoid the development of dangerous diseases.
3. Saturation of the soil with useful substances. This effect is achieved thanks to the roots. When planting a crop in poor soil, it is necessary to additionally feed it with minerals.
4. Restoration of soil structure. This effect is achieved due to the deep penetration of oxygen.
5. Saturation of the soil with sulfur and other important substances. This property is characteristic of the winter plant species. It helps to significantly improve the composition of the soil.
6. Attracting earthworms after mowing. Thanks to this, it is possible to continue loosening the soil. After processing the earth by worms, organic matter is formed. Its main difference from other fertilizers is its high nutritional value.
7. Can be used as mulch.

At the same time, the use of a plant as a green manure has some disadvantages:

1. Demanding on the landing site. The culture develops with difficulty in heavy or waterlogged soil. Therefore, it will not work to improve its structure with the help of rapeseed.
2. Inability to grow spring rapeseed in one place for more than 1 year in a row. The next time to plant a crop on the same site is allowed only after 4 years.
3. Poor compatibility with some plants. After this green manure, it is forbidden to plant cabbage, radish, turnip. The rapeseed itself cannot be placed on the beds on which beets were previously grown. The fact is that these plants suffer from the same diseases.

Types and varieties

It is permissible to use winter and spring rapeseed as green manure. The differences between them are in terms of influence on the ground:

• winter can be used for more than 1 year;
• spring is used no more than 1 season.

It is recommended to plant a biennial crop in spring. It resembles an ordinary plant, but does not bloom. After mowing, greens are allowed to be eaten. During the season, winter rapeseed produces green mass several times. However, it is not recommended to mow the last growth. It needs to be left in the beds in order to be embedded in the ground and dug up. This must be done to a depth of at least 15 centimeters.

Annual rapeseed quickly improves soil conditions. Therefore, it is permissible to plant it in autumn or early spring. After the appearance of greenery, the plant must be removed, and after 2 weeks, a new one should be planted.

Before which crops are rape planted

The use of rapeseed as green manure benefits the following plant species:

• cucumbers;
• tomatoes;
• potato;
• pumpkin;
• zucchini;
• pepper.

Terms and rules for planting green manure

Features of planting rapeseed depend on its variety. Winter crops are recommended to be planted in autumn or late summer. If you do this a little earlier, the root rosette may outgrow. This will cause the development of various diseases or increase sensitivity to frost.

Sowing winter rapeseed is recommended only after harvest. This is done after 10-14 days. When planting this plant, it is recommended to make a furrow up to 3 centimeters deep. The interval between rows should be 10-20 centimeters.In the resulting recess, it is required to plant the seed material. After 4-5 days, sprouts can be expected. The growing season takes 3 months.

Spring variety can be planted in early spring. Specific dates are determined by weather conditions. You also need to take into account the amount of precipitation in winter and the weather forecast for the near future. Spring rapeseed does not tolerate frost and temperature fluctuations.

To facilitate the planting process, the soil must first be loosened. The grooves are made 3 centimeters deep. Row spacing should be 10-15 centimeters.

Before planting, the seeds must be mixed in equal parts with sand. For 1 square meter, 2 grams of seeds are required. After planting, the beds should be carefully sprinkled with earth. After that, the soil needs to be leveled with a rake.

Plant care

The first sprouts appear 4-5 days after planting.In this case, the stem immediately begins to develop. For 3-3.5 months, the bushes reach a height of 80-140 centimeters. The flowering period lasts 3-5 weeks. During the development period, the bushes do not require special care. Rapeseed is considered an undemanding crop. After mowing the greenery, the soil needs to be dug up.

When and how to mow green mass

Spring rapeseed is not recommended to be embedded in the soil. It just needs to be bevelled. If you plan to plant the main crop, rapeseed must be mowed after growing up to 25 centimeters. After that, the greens need to be slightly dug up or placed in compost. The main crop should be planted after 14-21 days.

If the soil is resting, and it is not planned to plant cultivated plants, the first time the greenery needs to be mowed when it grows up to 16 centimeters. This will provoke its rapid growth. When pods appear, rapeseed should be removed immediately.

For the winter variety, the mowing time interval is not so important. In this case, it is recommended to take into account the weather conditions. When pods appear on the bushes, the plant should be removed. This usually happens at the end of May.

Greens must be left in place. At the same time, it can be poured with water or use EM products. This helps speed up the decomposition process. After 1 month, the soil will be ready for further processing and planting of cultivated plants.

Rapeseed is considered an effective green manure, which helps to improve the structure of the soil and increase the yield of cultivated plants. At the same time, it is important to choose the right planting time and mowing time.

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