Lupin as green manure: when to sow, how to grow and care

Gardeners have returned to the old method of restoring soil nutrients - plants. As green manure, lupines are planted in their plots. Perennial varieties of this species are used for long-term rest of the soil. Annual varieties are planted before planting or after harvest. The plant has established itself not only as green manure for the soil. Some varieties of lupine are used as fertilizer.

What good is lupine, like green manure

Over time, the land in the garden and garden is depleted. Restore the nutritional properties of the soil with fertilizers or planting green manure. One of the representatives of such plants is lupine.

Cons

A plant planted in the form of green manure can harm if the requirements of agricultural technology are not met:

1. Siderats are mowed in time. The delay leads to a thickening of the stem and its long-term decomposition. This leads to the process of decay, the formation of fungal, viral diseases.
2. Lupine seeds are scattered around the site, not planted in rows. This planting pattern protects the soil from weeds.
3. Exclude the neglect of plantings, do not grow to maximum growth. Siderats during decomposition form a large amount of nitrogen. Future crops simply “burn out” when planted.
4. Precursors of the same family are excluded, since the soil tends to retain common pests.

All types of lupine contain toxic alkaloids to varying degrees.

Pros

Gardeners often choose lupine for soil restoration for its positive characteristics:

1. Due to long roots, it draws useful substances to the surface from the depth without disturbing the top nutrient layer of the earth.
2. Enriches the soil with useful substances, trace elements, oxygen.
3. Quickly growing green mass.
4. Loves green manure soil with an acidic reaction, eventually turning it into an alkaline.
5. Unpretentious plant. Requires minimal maintenance.
6. Makes the soil loose, he althy. Kills harmful bacteria thanks to the element in its composition - lupinine.
7. Autumn plantings trap snow, preserve the integrity of the site from erosion.

The right technology, care will lead to rapid soil recovery.

What elements enriches the soil

When grass decomposes, nitrogen is formed in the soil - up to 20 grams per square meter. As a result, the soil is enriched with nitrogen fertilizer. Nutrient components stand out: organic matter, potassium, iron, phosphorus, calcium, sulfur. Due to these elements, the soil is restored.

Interaction with other cultures

Using lupine as green manure, you should not plant other crops for the same purpose. The plant copes alone with the assigned tasks. Otherwise, different cultures will start fighting for better conditions. Neighborhood will lead to negative consequences.

Lupines are sometimes planted between rows between vegetables - this is the right decision. And in this case, all varieties of green manure are suitable. The grass will provide high yields to the crop. The main thing is to cut green manure in time.

What kind of plant is used as fertilizer

Of all varieties of lupine, the narrow-leaved species is chosen as a fertilizer, because of the special substance in the root. The plant is characterized by a rapid increase in green mass, the development of the root system. It requires minimal maintenance. 2-3 years after planting and plowing narrow-leaved lupine, the top layer of the earth is saturated with nitrogen, useful microelements, and a loose soil structure is formed.

Popular varieties used as fertilizer: Vityaz, Change, Beloozerny, Crystal, Siderat 38, Nadezhda, Snezhet, Rainbow.

Types and description of annual lupine varieties

The legume family, which includes lupine, has up to 200 subspecies. There are perennial, annual varieties. They grow like herbaceous, semi-shrub plants. Annual, herbaceous varieties are chosen as green manure in Russia. In agriculture, three types are used: yellow, white, blue.Among perennial varieties, multi-leaf lupine is popular as an ornamental plant.

White Lupinus albus

The species of white lupine is grown in the southern regions. Since the plant is thermophilic, it stretches up to 2 meters. Likes to grow in sunny areas. The leaves are large, always directed towards the sun. They have an obovate shape. The leaf plate is fleecy below, smooth above. Whorled and regular inflorescences are collected in an ear, 30 centimeters long. Bean pods have 5-6 white seeds when ripe.

Grown as green manure and animal feed. It contains a smaller amount of alkaloids than its counterparts. Known subspecies: Degas, Desnyansky, Gamma.

Blue and narrow-leaved Lupinus angustifolius

The type of blue or narrow-leaved lupine is frost-resistant. Stretches up to 1.5 meters. Spike inflorescences, depending on the variety, are blue, purple, pink, white.

The root goes to a depth of 1.5 meters. Varieties of the narrow-leaved species are used as green manure, fertilizer. Rarely used for decorative purposes. For example, the Sidirat 38 variety is used only as a fertilizer. It contains derivatives of ethyl alcohol.

Known varieties of this species: Nemchinovsky, Pink 399, Crystal.

Yellow Lupinus luteus

Compared to other species, yellow lupine is stunted. The stem stretches up to one meter. He likes warm regions, withstands slight frosts (-5 degrees). The soil for planting is sandy loam, sandy, with a neutral reaction. The view is demanding on lighting, watering.

Known varieties: Torch, Academic, Peresvet and Grodno, Prestige.

Basic Growing Principles

When landing, take into account predecessors, landing time. In the future, the grass requires the removal of weeds and timely mowing.

Before which crops to use

The plant is sown in one place for no more than 4 years. Undesirable predecessors are perennial legumes, cruciferous, cereals, leguminous crops. Common pests and diseases persist in the soil.

Terms and technology of sowing

In the spring, as soon as a stable temperature is established without frost, the grass is sown in open ground. In the autumn period, planting is sown after harvesting vegetables or in August.

First option

The plot is freed from weeds, the seeds are scattered over the surface of the field and the soil is loosened so that the seeds are at a depth of 4-10 centimeters. In order for the seeds to germinate better, they are scarified before planting.

Second option

In grooves with a step of 5-15 centimeters between seeds, 15-30 - in rows. Planting depth - 4-10 centimeters. One hundred square meters requires 3 kilograms of planting material.

Rules for plant care

Weeds appear faster than crops. Therefore, they are regularly removed from the site. To do this, with a lightweight harrow, a rake harrows the soil on the 4th day after sowing. The second loosening is carried out with the growth of seedlings 10-15 centimeters. The third treatment is repeated after 7 days. Watering is carried out as the soil dries.

When to clean

The main condition for growing green manure is timely mowing. At 55-60 days after sowing, green manure is cut off. Lupine should not be allowed to bloom. Inflorescences will take all the nutrients.

Mow green manure in cloudy, morning weather. After mowing, the grass is chopped and left on the field. If the weather is dry, the site is watered, sprinkled with earth. Thick stems are selected, sent to the compost pit. Autumn sowing is mowed in October, before frost.

Possible difficulties in growing crops

It happens that lupine does not want to grow on the site. The reason lies in the composition of the soil. Check the soil for acidity before planting. Lupine does not grow in alkaline soil. Only on sour, neutral.

Weeds sprout earlier than green manure. Remove weeds while seedlings are small. In the future, the plants will “clog” the entire weed. Watering is needed for young seedlings. Adult specimens no longer need watering, as the root goes to great depths.

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