GREE3T MAXIKIXG

Otago Witness, Issue 2848, 14 October 1908, Page 22

GREE3T MAXIKIXG

The advantage to be derived from plough- j in.g in a suitable green crop ie becoming'j yearly better recognised, and there is no doubt much to be said in its favour in ; certain circumstances. JBy this means, j a;nd with the aid- of arj&ificiaV manures, the . soil of outlyinff fields can be maintained inj good * condition - without recourse to an" ex- ' pensive dressing of' farmyard dung. Farm* , yard manure will always remain the best . means of restoring fertility to a soil, but when this material is scarce, or the cost s of carting to distant fields is heavy, then ' green manuring supplemented by artificials . can take its place. Artificial fertilisers alone cannot do this for any length cf time, because they supply no hum us- forming organic matter, the presence of which in J tbs 6oil is of importance, to loosen heavy j soils, and to improve the- physical condition and moisture capacity of light soils, j Besides which, the humus supplies nourish- , ment to the soil bacteria, which carry out | such important functions in the develop- \ m<>nt of plant nourishment. | Thus the benefits to be exsscted from | green manuring are : — } 1. A supply of organic substance is fur- 1 nished to the soil. j 2. When a- leguminous crop is ploughed , under the soil is enriched with the nitrogen extracted from the' atmosphere by the crop. 3. The physical condition of the soil is " improved, as the deep roots of the legu- ; minoug crop open up the low<v strata of the soil, thus enabling- the roots of the 1 following crop to penetrate deep and to utilise the moisture in the lower layer of . !* the soil. ' . • Green manuring ie - especially' beneficial on light candy soils/ and to etnable the : green, crop to grow .quickly and .luxuriously j it should" Tieceive a good dressing of phos- 1 phate of "lime and potash, which will net hs ■ lost, but will be decomposed again as the ! green crop rots for the benefit of the next ' crop. . j