Barley as green manure
Content:
Using barley as a green manure, you greatly facilitate your life, since it replaces organic matter and minerals, does not allow weed grass to take up space in the garden.
The benefits of barley as green manure
Barley as green manure: photo
These plants are referred to as "green fertilizing materials". They are able to increase soil fertility in a short time. Their use by gardeners among themselves is called sideration.
At the moment, about 400 varieties of plant crops are used for green manure. The most commonly used are cereals. Barley as a green manure is included in this plant group. When a plant grows greens, a large content of useful elements and organics accumulates in it. The plant is considered an environmentally friendly fertilizer material.
The root system of barley does a lot of work, since the plant receives a large amount of air and moisture from it.
Barley as green manure: pros and cons
The positive aspects of planting barley as a siderat include:
- Humus formation. Barley greens decompose under the influence of natural environmental processes. In the course of all actions, humus is formed, the largest amount of it makes the soil more fertile. Plants improve the formation of the root system, air permeability, nutrition, resistance to environmental changes.
- Soil structuring. Through small channels, the liquid actively moves to a depth. The soil is constantly loosened and convenient for the growth of other plants.
- Reducing the number of weeds. Thickness of leaves, extensive root system, emitting toxic elements, the growth of weeds stops. The plant is active against wheatgrass.
- Disinfection of soil. Pathogenic microorganisms die from harmful substances that the roots secrete.
- Reducing the number of pests. Barley attracts pollinating insects, and the number of leafhoppers, aphids and nematodes is decreasing.
- The soil is protected from leaching and weathering. Very often the soil is susceptible to the negative effects of erosion. Barley has thick leaves and a compacted root system, thereby increasing the fertility of the soil.
- An increase in the quality indicators of fruits. Plants after harvesting green manure grow quickly and become more resistant to diseases. The fruits are filled with a high content of trace elements, minerals, proteins, amino acids.
The main disadvantage of cereals is the lure of the root system for the wireworm. If there is this insect on the landings, then it is better to plant mustard.
Green manure is just as beneficial as fertilizing with fresh manure. This method is considered biologically pure. The gardener at the exit receives fertilizer material of organic origin. Buying plant seeds is much cheaper and easier.
Barley as green manure: when and how to sow
Barley as green manure: photo
Barley as green manure is of two types: winter and spring. The first variety is planted in the fall, and the second in the spring.
When a spring plant is planted in spring, it reacts sensually to temperature changes. Typically, green manure is planted in the beds on the 15th of March or next month. Barley can be planted in summer after harvesting early ripening plants.
The winter variety is planted in late August or early autumn. Barley as a green manure in autumn grows to a small winter period, barley begins to develop rapidly after the convergence of snow masses.This can complicate planting and care work, it is best to plant a green manure crop in a large free area. With large minus indicators, barley as green manure can freeze in the fall, so planting is best done in areas where winters are not harsh.
Siderat is planted instead of other crops, except for cereals. If cereals are planted in the same place for many years in a row, then the soil will be filled with pathogenic substances, and the number of pests will also significantly increase.
On average, about 20 grams of seeds are consumed per 1 square meter, but if there is a desire to prevent the development of weeds, then the planting can be thickened. The seat is harrowed, dug up and removed all unnecessary. Seed material is laid evenly, embedding it in the ground, sprinkling with water.
In order for the seeds to actively germinate, the soil must be regularly moistened. For the happiness of the gardener, green manure plants are not demanding in fertilization and digging, the most important thing is to irrigate the plants on time in dry weather.
Important: Barley, as a siderat, must be cut 2 months after the formation of shoots. Upward, the plant stretches about 0.6 meters. If you delay the period of cutting greens, then the barley will have spikelets, on the nutrition of which the green manure will spend a lot of time.
Barley as green manure: when to bury
Most of the benefits of the process are lost when digging up the soil and plowing the plants into the ground. There is a destabilization of the structural composition of the soil and symbiosis.
If there is a small amount of oxygen in the soil, then the greens of the plant will decompose at a slow rate. Thus, the plant will simply not simply rot. The main requirement for green manure is a sufficient content of oxygen and water.
To get the most out of the soil, you need to follow these guidelines:
- The green manure is cut under the rhizome before the spike begins. A flat cutter is best suited for such work.
- The greens of the plant must be rationally spread over the surface of the soil. If desired, green manure can be embedded in the ground.
- In dry weather, the barley must be constantly watered. In order for the formation of enzymes to take place actively, you need to put compost on the mown grass in a layer of 60 cm after 3 days.
- The soil does not need digging. The root system of barley will decompose in the soil, thus feeding worms and beneficial microorganisms.
- Key plants are planted a couple of weeks after mowing. During this period of time, the negative substances that have accumulated in the root system will have time to wash out.
- The spring variety does not need to be mown before winter. During the winter, decomposition of the greenery of the plant will occur. In the spring, the soil is loosened and a key crop is planted on it.
Special substances secreted by the roots of the plant help the main plant to grow actively. It also helps to increase the amount of humus in the soil.
You can even simply pour seed material into the planting hole and, after the emergence of seedlings, remove them with a hoe, so neighboring plants will receive a large amount of useful substances.
Important: It is not recommended to plant seedlings near green manure. Because of the substances secreted by the roots of green manure, young plants may suffer, poorly taking root. Better to wait a couple of weeks and land.
Combination and sowing turnover
Barley as green manure: photo
In order not to tire the soil, it is worth growing a variety of green manure plants.
Barley as green manure alternates with:
- Beans - such as beans, peas, clover and others.
- Cruciferous - radish, mustard and rapeseed.
- Amaranth, buckwheat and others.
For maximum benefits, cereals are planted side by side with beans. It is worth mixing cereal and legume seeds in a 5: 1 ratio.
Conclusion
Sideration has a large number of advantages, but despite this, not all gardeners plant these plants. A large number of farmers are not aware of this possibility.To begin with, it is better to plant some plants as a sample to see the merits of this method.
Barley as green manure: video