Oats as green manure

Farming for many is not just a hobby or a hobby: for many it has long become a real and very valuable science, and every gardener strives to learn as many subtleties and secrets as possible of this difficult, but at the same time incredibly interesting occupation. Only thanks to knowledge can you not only successfully plant a plant, but also get an incredibly plentiful and tasty harvest from it. In addition, sometimes on an industrial scale, a gardener can get a very bountiful harvest, some of which will be sold.

Introduction

Within the framework of the vast agro-industrial complex, every little thing and every nuance is important, because any cultivated plants, vegetables, fruits, flowers - all this requires an individual approach, extremely careful care measures. The land in which these crops grow also needs to be saturated and full of mineral and organic substances, which play a very significant role in the development of plantings. She also needs fertilization and feeding, as well as processing from a professional point of view, and this should also be paid very close attention to.

If a gardener has acquired a personal plot, then it does not matter what area it is, and whether there will be regular planting of crops. The most important thing is to know about some of the intricacies of soil enrichment, since over time, the soil can be very easily and simply depleted - it loses its fertile properties, nutritional components, which is why it is experiencing tremendous stress. Plantings that find themselves in such depleted soil experience no less stress - they do not have any additional motivation for growth, development, they can not develop normally, give a harvest - even more so.

Today, several artificial methods of soil enrichment and feeding have been developed, and there are also some plants and crops, thanks to which the gardener has every chance to rid the soil of weeds and improve its overall mineral and organic composition. Such plants may include green manure, and oats are one of the most popular and widespread green manure plants. In this article, we will dwell in more detail on the description of the properties of oats, on how oats can help the soil to restore its balance, its energy. We will also tell you when it is recommended to plant oats so that it is a successful and effective green manure - in the autumn or spring. In addition, we will give some tips on how best to deal with plants that have reached their maximum growth, and now something needs to be done with them in order to squeeze out the maximum nutrients and action from oats as from green manure.

Oats as green manure

Siderata are plants that gardeners do not grow at all in order to sell on the market or eat, preparing various dishes. Siderata are crops with a special chemical composition, thanks to which it is possible to restore the soil, which seems to be completely depleted, has lost its ability to live. In addition, thanks to the siderates, you can effortlessly prepare the soil for the next planting season, which also plays a very important and significant role. Siderata are not harvested or harvested in advance - they usually grow right in the soil, wither in it, the process of decay and composting begins. And it is during this period that the plants give off all the most useful and nutritious substances, which then have an excellent effect on the general condition of both the soil and crops.

The stalks of green manure very quickly gain strength in themselves - a green mass, which, after plowing, decomposes and turns into a real and very useful compost. The root system of green manure is extensive and can cover almost all the upper layers of the soil that are located on the site. Thanks to this, weeds do not have the opportunity to germinate on the site, which really plays a very significant role. The same weeds, which nevertheless somehow germinate, do not receive enough sunlight, since green manure creates a very dense grass or shrub cover. Eventually, the weed dies and the crops of the cultivated species are safe. In addition, there is one more thing worth paying attention to. The root system of green manure is perfectly located in the soil, thoroughly penetrating it. Thanks to this, a large amount of such necessary moisture enters the soil, as well as rainwater perfectly penetrates the soil. Oxygen permeates the soil, making it light and fertile. Also, airing the soil is generally a very significant process, since it reduces the risk that pathogenic bacteria or spores will develop in the soil, from which fungi will then develop. Also, green manure can protect the soil from blowing away, especially in those regions where there are strong gusts of wind and very windy weather. So one should bear in mind such a large number of advantages of green manure and understand why today it is becoming so popular in modern gardening and agricultural activities.

Plants of different families are grown as siderates. Usually, the choice falls on green manure legumes, as they are distinguished by their usefulness and versatility. But often the choice of gardeners falls on rye, barley and oats, since they are considered the most ancient and stable cereals. People planted oats in the spring and autumn, as well as before winter. He got his fame much earlier than wheat or rye appeared, and therefore, until now, it is oats as a green manure that are trusted to protect plots, transform them, and restore them.

The value of oats as a green manure consists of several particularly significant characteristics at once. They are presented as follows:

- protein mass of oats - oat stalks are distinguished by excellent nutritional value, since it is in them that a huge amount of valuable protein is concentrated, and there is even more protein in oats than in clover or alfalfa, which is worth paying attention to

- the mineral composition of oats - oats contain much less nitrogen than some other green manure, but there is really a lot of potassium and phosphorus in it. Therefore, oats can enrich and saturate clay soils, which differ not only in their unfavorableness, but also in their viscosity, which is not always suitable for growing many crops.

- aeration - this cereal has a very powerful and branched root system. Thanks to this, the roots can loosen the soil with particular care and, as a result, the dense soil becomes soft and very light. Aeration is the process of aeration when the soil is saturated with oxygen. This is very important in order to avoid some stagnant processes, because thanks to this the plants will feel much more comfortable, and the soil itself will be more enriched and fertile.

- strengthening - loose and shaky soil oats (or rather, its root system) make it more cohesive and dense, binds parts of the soil. Therefore, in general, oats can have an excellent effect on a wide variety of types and forms of soil, it is not harmful at all, there are no visible side effects from it, so this is really a huge advantage, which we will pay attention to more than once.

- herbicidal properties of oats - when the cereal reaches its growth and development, it can form quite dense and dense plantings. The stems are very close to each other, and therefore no weeds can germinate between the dense packing of the oats. Simply, oats drown out weeds, and therefore the site is cleared of harmful grasses, which has an excellent effect on the general condition of the soil and, accordingly, on the health and development of the cultivated plants themselves in the future.

- unpretentiousness - the cereal can adapt to absolutely any soil in terms of composition. He does not require any kind of careful attention or care. At the same time, green manure can easily grow on loams and chernozem soils, in peat bogs, clay and sandy soils. In fact, oats are the real dream of any farmer who does not really want to spend too much time on grooming activities, but at the same time wants to get the perfect result in planting.

- yield - if you count on one hundred square meters of the total area of ​​the site, then the yield gives a mass that is equal to 100 kilograms of high-quality and useful manure. So here you need to think about whether it makes sense sometimes to purchase not always available and not at all cheap manure, if you can grow an excellent alternative on your own plot without much effort.

Of course, the benefits of oats are incredibly appealing. But, one way or another, it has several disadvantages. Somehow, gardeners and farmers do not notice them at all, and for some these shortcomings are very obvious, and they call to pay direct attention to them. Among the disadvantages, the following aspects stand out:

- the green mass does not have such a large volume as that of many other green manures. As a rule, in the spring period, oats may simply not be enough for too depleted soils, but in order to maintain cleanliness and order on the site, oats are still much more ideal than many chemicals and preparations that do not have such a natural and plant composition. , and therefore, gardeners often refuse them in order to protect their own lives and health.

- Oats contain a very small amount of nitrogen. Due to the fact that the cereal has a very small content of nitrogenous component, it has to be sown in those areas where other nitrogen content of green manure is already growing - alfalfa or clover. The gardener then needs to dig or plow the area so that both crops mix with each other, creating a great and nutritious organic duo.

- oats need to be in relatively low temperatures, as well as for the gardener to irrigate the soil as often as possible. Oats also prefer shady areas, coolness and abundant moisture to give the most efficient growth and development. In principle, it is ideal for areas where the climate is not stable, stable and arid. But as for other, drier and warmer regions, then there you should already think about whether it makes sense to plant oats, since alone he is unlikely to be able to cope with the seven requirements and enrich the soil as much as possible.

One way or another, the advantages of oats still outweigh the disadvantages, but it is up to the gardener to choose this green manure or not. It all depends on the condition of the soil, on what crops will grow on this site, as well as on what goals the gardener or farmer pursues, and whether the site will be used in the future for any planting, or he uses green manure initially for general and thorough restoration of soil condition, and then already turn to planting a variety of crops. In the next part of the article, we will turn to what features of plant cultivation exist today in modern agronomy and horticulture, and what is the specificity of growing oats as green manure.

Features of growing oats

In general, experienced gardeners know several basic secrets that they use in order to grow green manure and, in particular, oats. This refers to the fact that initially oats do not have a high green mass, but it can be increased, as well as strengthened the root system, while in no way affecting the condition of the soil, which must sometimes give some substances and forces to the cultivation of green manure. So, if you plant oats in different time and climatic periods, in different seasons, then it will give a different level of nutritional value. It is on this that in the future will depend on what the harvest will be for the next year, what its volume will be.

There are several basic rules, adhering to which you can get excellent results in planting green manures from the cereal family. You should immediately pay attention to the fact that cereals should never be planted in front of cereals. Therefore, if the gardener planned to plant the field immediately after removing oats or buckwheat from it. As well as wheat, then this idea should be abandoned immediately, since it will not bring any sense at all, but can significantly disrupt the overall soil balance. Also, do not sow oats in the area where the gardener plans to plant a potato crop further - such a sequence will be completely unfavorable. But oats can be planted after the potato crop has been harvested - in this case, the soil balance will be maintained, and the plants will feel great. The wireworm reacts very well to oats, it can stay there even after the oats are mowed and the potatoes are planted, so there is a high risk that the wireworm will greatly oppress the potatoes, weaken them, make them completely unprepared for fruiting, and the gardener will simply lose the whole potato crop. So that the potato crop is not lost, it is recommended to use some other green manures for planting, ideally legumes, but not cereals.

If potatoes grew on the site last year, and the gardener decided to clear the site for new crops, then oats are just very good for this. It will remove the remnants of potato elements, and also cope with potato scab, which has chosen the soil and does not seek to leave it, as it feels just fine and comfortable. If we talk about other crops, then this cereal is excellent for feeding and saturating the soil with nutritious mineral and organic elements. Therefore, the gardener can safely plant oats on the site, and then this site is ideal for planting raspberries or currants, other fruit and berry plants on it. Also, after oats on the site, peppers of different varieties and varieties, tomatoes and cabbage feel great. Strawberry and strawberry rosettes will also receive maximum nutrients from the soil on which oats were previously grown.

Of course, here you should pay attention to when and how the green manure is sown. In fact, this cereal is very moisture-loving and frost-resistant. Therefore, it is recommended to sow it in a cold, very damp time. It is best to plant in October, when the crop is harvested from the site, and the soil has not yet had time to get too wet under the influence of autumn precipitation. It is at this time that cereal seeds are introduced. Oats are completely unsuitable for frosts, so it will not survive them, which is also worth paying attention to. It is for this reason that it is worth finding out: if winter comes very early, then it is best to abandon the autumn sowing of oats and transfer it to a more stable spring period. If there are about forty days before the onset of frost, then you can safely plant the cereal - it will have time to gain strength, take root, and gain the required volume of green mass.In the future, oats will become an excellent fertilizer and top dressing, since it will have time not only to crush it under the snow, but also to rot, and this will already be equated by the nutritional properties of manure.

In the spring, before sowing oats, you should also pay attention to the weather and climatic conditions, to the temperature indicators. If oats are laid in warm and even hot regions, then sowing can be carried out already in February, when the very first melt water appears under the snow. If the winter was harsh, cold and very long, then it is best to sow oats closer to the end of March, when the frosts begin to gradually recede and precipitation will decrease significantly. It is at this time that the siderat will have about 30-40 days for the stems to fully ripen. After that, the gardener prescribes plowing the soil, and then it is already possible to plant the main cultivated plants, for which oats will become an ideal feed. It is possible to enrich the soil with siderate until the onset of September, and it is equally suitable for both early and late crops. Then it is worth taking a break of about one month, after which the green manure is sown under the snow. One way or another, it all depends on many indicators and circumstances, so that the gardener should adequately and correctly, objectively assess the weather and climatic conditions, the general condition of the soil, so as not to face problems in planting green manure and planting the main cultivated plants in the future.

Before the oat seeds are introduced into the soil, they can be disinfected a little with potassium permanganate. This will remove all pathogenic flora, kill microorganisms, and also increase the level of oat germination in the area. To do this, it will be enough to keep the seeds in potassium permanganate for twenty minutes, then rinse them thoroughly with running water. It is also mono to use gauze or cotton cloth - the seeds will not flow away anywhere along with the stream of water, and at the same time they are perfectly washed from both potassium permanganate and those trace elements that were killed by potassium permanganate to protect crops. The land should be loosened up, the remnants of the old tops, which may be caught in the soil, should be removed. In general, oats need rest for excellent germination, and it is also necessary for the soil to be loose and well ventilated, saturated with oxygen. Seeds are introduced in a chaotic manner, they can simply be scattered over the site, without calculating any distances between plantings. Oats will sprout quite often, and this will further protect the soil, especially from possible weed shoots, and this is very important.

One hundred square meters of land can take about two kilograms of seeds. The most important thing when planting is that the randomness should also be in moderation, and the seeds should be evenly distributed. The crops should not have bald spots, it should be a uniform planted field, which will then be quite simple to harvest and process. If the soil is too dry, it is recommended to add a little moisture from the hose. If this is not done, the soil will become very dense, knocked down, and this can add additional problems to the gardener himself in the future, when he starts planting cultivated plants.

When we talk about caring for green manure, we usually emphasize that in general they are completely unpretentious. One way or another, the same cannot be said for oats. It needs abundant moisture, since only in this case it can build up a sufficient green mass, which will then be used for fertilization. If the weather is dry and does not provide natural watering, then only the gardener himself will have to apply watering. Approximately once every few days, you should also check and evaluate the general condition of the plantings, especially at the initial stages, when the sprouts are just hatching, and the leaves are just beginning to form and gradually develop. If the stems cannot gain green mass at all, then it is recommended to understand what the reason is.Perhaps, before that, too aggressive crops grew on the site, which completely depleted the soil, and therefore its energy is not even enough to help itself siderat... In this case, you can enrich the soil by adding very little mineral mixture to it yourself. Ideally, either saltpeter or superphosphate is suitable here, which have an excellent effect on the general condition of the cereal culture. In general, the sheep remains not such a capricious culture, so in addition to moisturizing, it does not need to give any other agrotechnical care measures.

From the moment of sowing until the moment when oats can be mowed, it should take from thirty to forty days. At the same time, it is better for a gardener to independently focus on what the mass of the plant is, to pay attention to the state of the panicle of the flowers themselves. If pollen begins to form on them, then at this time it is best to cut off the stems. If a gardener sowed oats in the fall, then he should remember that mowing must begin literally on the eve of the onset of frost. Then he will have time to meet all the deadlines and get an excellent green manure, which will be of great benefit to the personal plot and the plantings that are located on it. If the mowing is scheduled for the spring, then it can be organized and carried out no later than 10-14 days before planting the main crops. Otherwise, the green manure will not have time to overheat and rot, and in this case, it will not give the plants the benefits that it could carry if the gardener fulfilled his role in time.

In general, today agricultural activity is considered to be one of the most profitable and significant in the industry. It is enough to make some effort in order to competently cultivate the soil, and you can get an excellent and nutritious harvest that will be completely natural and safe for the person himself. In sowing, in no case should you rush - you should calculate in advance the opportunities and risks and, starting from this, prepare for planting the main crops. Oats should also only be placed in prepared soil. It should be moist and loose, because in this case the oats will be much more successful in gaining their green mass and, as a result, will show excellent green manure results. Knowing the most elementary rules, you can achieve an excellent result in this activity and, accordingly, get an incredible and very budgetary fertilizer, which by its characteristics will be several times more effective than manure.