IMPROVING THE SOIL

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2338, 7 January 1926, Page 9

IMPROVING THE SOIL

VALUE OP GREEN MANURE. Farmers are beginning to realise the value of green manuring, and many are anticipating growing catcJ* crops to plough in for this purpose. This is good practice, especially where intensve farming is practised, and is an excellent way of renovating poor or neglected soils. Green manure supplies to Uie land organic matter and nitrogen. Sometimes light, sandy, calcareous, and even Ijeavy clayey soils are deficient in organic matter. Green manuring consists of allowing green crops such as mustard, rape, clover, vetcdies, lupins, buckwheat, and many other crops suited to the varied conditions, to grow until almost mature when they are ploughed into the land. On light calcareous soils the crop should not be allowed to get too near maturity or it will leave the land too porous. On clayey or very heavy land it may he better that the soil should be kept a little porous, as such soils should not be packed too tightly. It is, therefore, better under these conditions to allow the crop to become more mature. /

If the land is clear' green crops should be sown as soon as possible, so that they may reach the right stage of maturity to be ploughed in during the hot weather. The best time to plough in green manure is during the summer or early autumn. The heat absorbed by the soil, aided by moisture, soon causes decay which quickly renders this matter available as plant food. Moreover, if wheat or other cereals are to follow, it is better that the green matter has time to become thoroughly rotted before the cereal is drilled in. This will not only supply valuable plant food but will at the same time help to retain moisture in the under layers of the fo.rrow which, under ordinary conditions, will be sufficient to give an autumn crop a fair starj;. Cereals sown in the autumn, especially if the season has been a dry one, require the soil to be aided in some way to conserve moisture as there may be insufficient moisture to germinate the seed properly. In such a case the crop will be retarded, which will materially affect the yield.