HUMUS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 29 June 1939, Page 3

HUMUS

NEEDED IN SOIL value oE luplNs As tjREEN CROP Lupines are of value for building up fertility, pdrtfctflarly oh light and sandy soils, naturally deficient in humus or vegetable organic matter. Not only do they add humus arid rtitfOgert to the soil, but when they are turned under as a green ctOp, they alter the texture of the surface soil, enabling it to retain irioisture at and the surface, Where plant roots cart ritilise it. Humus, nitrogen and moisture are the most valuable ingredients in a porous soil. Humus, alone, provides a heme (o' r soil bacteria, which, in life and death, provide a 1 abundant supply of available plant food. Unlike most other legumes, lupins will* also grow

reasonably well on soils deficient in lime, and hence are valuable on acid soils which it is desire*.', to build up os cheaply and quickly as possible. Sowing can take place in early autumn and a heavy bulk of sappy grenstuff will be reaay for turning under in spring in prepaiation for a spring-sown crop. Once lupins have been ploughed under on light and sour soils, it is safe to apply a dressing of lime to correct the acidity, after which almost any crop can be grown successfully. Blue lupins, and also a non-alkaloid variety of yellow lupin recently developed in Germany, make excellent sheep fodder. In many instances light and poor soils can be profitably built up by passing the crop through the stock in this way. There is little doubt that a great area of light country in this Dominion could be cheaply and profitably brought into tich productivity through the utilisation of lupins.