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Spring rape as siderat
Spring rape is a multifunctional plant that can serve as a honey plant, livestock feed or green manure. In addition, useful oil is obtained from it.
Benefits of spring rapeseed as green manure
The plant is widely used as a green manure. With it, you can quickly improve the quality of the soil and increase yields.
Spring rape is used for several purposes: as green manure, honey plant, livestock feed and oil plant
The main advantages of rapeseed include:
- Frost resistance. It is not afraid of sudden temperature fluctuations, it can be planted from early spring to late autumn.
- Fast growth. The plant actively grows green mass regardless of weather conditions.
- Rapid decomposition. After harvesting, rapeseed quickly decomposes and releases all its nutrients and trace elements into the soil.
- Powerful root system. Thanks to the many branches, the root loosens the lower layers of the soil, increasing its air and water permeability.
- Elimination of harmful insects and treatment of diseases. Thanks to the essential oils included in the plant, rapeseed destroys pests and protects garden crops from many diseases.
Green manure is most beneficial for crops such as potatoes, tomatoes, pumpkin, cucumbers, peppers, and zucchini.
You cannot plant crops such as beets, cabbage, turnips, radishes after green manure. Because they belong to the same family and are prone to the same diseases and pests.
How and when to sow spring rapeseed
You can sow the plant from the end of March. After just 1,5 months, it is ready for harvesting and mixing with the soil. In one season, green manure can be grown up to 3 times. To reanimate the soil after the summer period, it is recommended to sow fertilizer after harvest, in August.
Before you start sowing a useful fertilizer, the site must be prepared by slightly loosening the soil.
Rape as a green manure is recommended to be alternated with other types of fertilizers every year. You can not plant the same for several years in a row
After harvesting the plants, garden crops are planted no earlier than 2 weeks later. During this time, the green manure should completely decompose and enrich the soil.
You can sow seeds in rows or in bulk. For a more even distribution of seeds, they can be mixed with sand. The maximum seeding depth is 3-4 cm.
Rape will be a good help in growing many garden crops. Its beneficial effect on soil quality will not go unnoticed and will primarily affect high yields, the absence of pests and plant health.