Rye as green manure: advantages and disadvantages, when to sow and after how much it sprouts

Green manure is used as a natural fertilizer, they are sown in areas intended for growing crops. Various types of plants are used for this purpose. Consider the advantages of rye as green manure and its disadvantages, when and in front of which crops to plant. The sequence of the sowing process, how to care for rye when the best time for mowing comes.

Advantages of rye as green manure

Dignity of rye as an excellent green manure crop:

• can be sown in spring and autumn;
• stored for the winter and grows back quickly in the spring, so there is no need to sow seeds early in the spring while the ground is still warm, which saves time during spring work;
• after plowing into the soil quickly rots, becomes organic fertilizer;
• translates phosphorus in the soil into an accessible form, it becomes easily available to plants;
• disinfects the soil from pathogens, prevents the development of late blight, reduces the number of nematodes;
• enriches the soil with the main nutrients needed by any crop - potassium and nitrogen;
• improves soil structure and composition, especially on heavy soils;
• promotes the reproduction of earthworms, which process organic matter into humus;
• reduces weeds by preventing weed seeds from germinating, blocking light and taking away their nutrition;
• differs in unpretentiousness, therefore it does not require any special care;
• seeds are affordable and easy to buy.

In addition to the fact that rye is used in fields and gardens to improve the soil, it is used for fertilizer. In agriculture, spring and winter varieties can be sown. The benefit from them is the same, the difference lies in the timing of sowing.

Flaws of the plant

Rye is moisture-loving enough to provide itself with moisture, it pulls it out of the soil. The roots of mature plants go deep into the ground, but while they are young, they may suffer from a moisture deficiency. This affects the growth and development of green manure, if there is little water to the roots, the benefits of growing it decrease. For this reason, rye sown in dry areas where it does not often rain, needs to be watered.

Another drawback that can be encountered when growing: wireworms can start in the roots of the plant.To reduce the likelihood of this, it is recommended to treat the site with insecticides at a prophylactic dose before sowing, and repeat the treatment at the end of the season. Despite some drawbacks, the benefits of the crop attract many gardeners.

Before planting?

Almost all crops can be grown before rye, but there are those that are preferable to grow as predecessors. In the Non-Chernozem region, the best precursor for rye is potatoes. It must be completely removed at least 2 weeks before sowing green manure. In the Urals and in the North-Eastern region, plants can be sown after legumes, corn, and vegetables. It is recommended to remove them 1.5 months before sowing rye.

The basic rule to follow when choosing a crop that can be sown after green manure is that it should not belong to the grass family. This is explained by the fact that the soil occupied by cereals (green manure and crop) accumulates pathogens and pests that affect both crops.

When to plant

In autumn, you can sow rye from the very end of summer until mid-autumn. Before winter, green manure is sown after harvesting, when the residues are removed from the site. In a temperate climate, for example, in the Moscow region, the sowing time comes, on average, from half of August to half of September. The air temperature when green manure should be sown is 15-16 ° C. In any case, the planting date should be chosen so that at least 1.5 months remain before frost.

In the spring, rye can be sown as soon as the snow melts. The culture is cold-resistant, sprouts even in cold ground.

The process of sowing green manure

You can plant green manure seeds in different ways: row and diagonal-cross. In the latter case, the plants are placed more evenly and suppress weeds better. The distance between the rows of rye is left at about 7.5 cm, the seeds are deepened by about 4 cm.When sowing before winter, it is necessary to increase the usual volume of seeds (1.7-2 kg per hundred square meters) by at least 10%, this is necessary because a certain amount of seeds will not sprout or young plants will die during the winter. For sowing in autumn, it is recommended to take last year's rye, fresh seeds may not sprout.

Sowing sequence:

• remove all plant debris from the beds;
• fertilize if needed;
• dig the site;
• make grooves 5 cm deep;
• sow seeds in them;
• close the grooves with a rake.

If necessary, water the area with water.

How many days rye sprouts depends on the temperature and moisture of the soil, on the air temperature. At a soil temperature of more than 10 ° C and normal humidity, with a sowing depth of 4 cm, rye usually sprouts in 3-4 days.Germination in cold or dry soil is delayed and may take a week to a week and a half. In order for the seeds to germinate faster, the site must be watered if the soil moisture is insufficient. Seeds must be completely covered with soil.

How to care for a crop

Due to the moisture-loving nature of the plant, it may need to be watered. Keep the soil moist and water the area when it dries out. Otherwise, seedlings will become weak or rye will develop poorly. If the soil is initially poor in nutrients, then green manure must be fed immediately after planting and in the middle of the growth period. Rye does not need any more care, it does not overgrow with weeds, as it sprouts quickly and densely, thereby suppressing weeds.

Optimal timing for mowing

You can start mowing green manure when it reaches a height of 20-30 cm. The final mowing time is the budding stage.After it, the stems of the plants coarsen, in the soil they will rot longer. In addition, overgrown plants intensively draw nutrients from the ground. It is completely unacceptable to mow rye when seeds begin to ripen on it or have already ripened. By that time, the stems will already have time to dry, and the seeds spilled on the ground can germinate. There will be no benefit from siderata. Sprouted rye will become a weed.

In spring, winter rye should be mowed 2 weeks before planting the main crop in this place. Such a gap is required so that the greens have time to partially rot. Rye sown in summer is dug up 2 weeks before frost, winter rye is left until spring.

Rye is cut at a height of 2-3 cm from the soil surface. If you do not remove the roots, the greens will grow back. If it is steam, then you can leave the plants for the second mowing. If you need to plant a crop on the site, it should be dug up with a shovel or walk-behind tractor. Processing allows not only to cut the roots, but also to deepen the greens into the ground.

Rye as green manure can be used on different types of soil, in regions with any climate. It sprouts well at low positive temperatures, which is its advantage. Grass can be sown both in spring and autumn.

The use of green manure has many advantages: rye structures and loosens the soil, strengthens it, it is a natural green fertilizer. In terms of nutritional value, green manure can be compared with the introduction of manure. But they have advantages over manure: seeds are cheaper, take up less space. Rye does not contain weed seeds, which are abundant in manure.

If you sow rye in your garden every year, you don't need to apply any other fertilizer. Siderat also works as a disinfectant, reduces the number of bacteria and nematodes on the site, cleanses the soil of them. Crops planted after this are less sick, their yield increases.The products are environmentally friendly and safe for he alth. In vegetables, root crops, grain, the content of protein, organic substances increases, the amount of nitrates decreases. Growing green manure is absolutely simple, both an experienced and a novice gardener can easily cope with this.

Recommended