The use of rapeseed as green manure helps to obtain a complex effect. This green fertilizer saturates the soil with organic elements and has a beneficial effect on its structure. The plant also successfully copes with harmful insects and diseases. Therefore, it is often used on large plantations and in private farms. In order for rapeseed to give the desired effect, it is important to carry out planting work correctly and follow the rules of caring for it.
Advantages and disadvantages of this plant
The benefits of rapeseed when used as green manure are difficult to overestimate.
This culture has a number of advantages. These include the following:
- Effective weed removal. The roots of green fertilizer prevent the appearance of unwanted vegetation. A small amount of rapeseed should be planted between rows of cultivated plants.
- Elimination of harmful insects. This effect is achieved due to the essential oils that are present in the plant. These components also help avoid the development of dangerous diseases.
- Saturation of soil with useful substances. This effect is achieved thanks to the roots. When planting a crop in poor soil, it is necessary to additionally feed it with minerals.
- Restoration of soil structure. This effect is achieved due to the deep penetration of oxygen.
- Saturation of soil with sulfur and other important substances. This property is characteristic of a winter plant species. It helps to significantly improve the soil composition.
- Attracting earthworms after mowing. Thanks to this, it is possible to continue loosening the soil. After the earth is processed by worms, organic matter is formed. Its main difference from other fertilizers is its high nutritional value.
- Can be used as mulch.
However, using the plant as a green manure also has some disadvantages:
- Requirements for the landing site. The culture has difficulty developing in heavy or waterlogged soil. Therefore, it will not be possible to improve its structure with rapeseed.
- It is impossible to grow spring rape in one place for more than 1 year in a row. The next time it is allowed to plant the crop in the same area only after 4 years.
- Poor compatibility with some plants. After this green manure, it is forbidden to plant cabbage, radishes, and turnips.The rapeseed itself cannot be placed on beds where beets were previously grown. The fact is that these plants suffer from the same diseases.
Types and varieties
It is permissible to use winter and spring rape as green manure. The differences between them are in the timing of the influence on the ground:
- winter can be used for more than 1 year;
- spring crops are used for no more than 1 season.
It is recommended to plant a two-year crop in the spring. It resembles an ordinary plant, but does not bloom. After mowing, the greens are allowed to be eaten. During the season, winter rapeseed produces green mass several times. However, it is not recommended to mow the last growth. It needs to be left in the beds to be embedded in the ground and dug up. This must be done to a depth of at least 15 centimeters.
Annual rapeseed quickly improves soil condition. Therefore, it is permissible to plant it in autumn or early spring. After the greenery appears, the plant must be removed, and after 2 weeks a new one should be planted.
What crops are rapeseed in front of?
The use of rapeseed as green manure benefits the following types of plants:
- cucumbers;
- tomatoes;
- potato;
- pumpkin;
- zucchini;
- pepper.
Terms and rules for planting green manure
Features of planting rapeseed depend on its variety. It is recommended to plant winter crops in autumn or late summer. If you do this a little earlier, the root rosette may overgrow. This will cause the development of various diseases or increased sensitivity to frost.
It is recommended to sow winter rapeseed only after harvesting. This is done after 10-14 days. When planting this plant, it is recommended to make a furrow up to 3 centimeters deep. The interval between rows should be 10-20 centimeters.It is necessary to plant seed material in the resulting depression. After 4-5 days you can expect sprouts to appear. The growing season takes 3 months.
To facilitate the planting process, the soil must first be loosened. The grooves are made 3 centimeters deep. The row spacing should be 10-15 centimeters.
Before planting, the seeds must be mixed in equal parts with sand. For 1 square meter you will need 2 grams of seeds. After planting, the beds should be carefully covered with soil. After which the soil needs to be leveled with a rake.
Plant care
The first shoots appear 4-5 days after planting. In this case, the stem immediately begins to develop. In 3-3.5 months, the bushes reach a height of 80-140 centimeters. The flowering period lasts 3-5 weeks. During the development period, the bushes do not require special care. Rapeseed is considered an unpretentious crop. After mowing the greenery, the soil needs to be dug up.
When and how to mow green mass
Spring rapeseed is not recommended to be incorporated into the soil. It just needs to be mowed. If you plan to plant the main crop, rapeseed must be mowed after growing to 25 centimeters. After which the greens need to be lightly buried or placed in compost. The main crop should be planted after 14-21 days.
If the soil is resting and there are no plans to plant cultivated plants, the greenery must be mowed for the first time when it grows to 16 centimeters. This will provoke its rapid growth. When pods appear, rapeseed must be removed immediately.
For the winter variety, the mowing time interval is not so important. It is recommended to take weather conditions into account. When pods appear on the bushes, the plant should be removed. This usually occurs at the end of May.
The greens must be left in place. In this case, you can water it with water or use EM products. This helps speed up the decomposition process. After 1 month, the soil will be ready for subsequent processing and planting of cultivated plants.
Rapeseed is considered an effective green manure that helps improve soil structure and increase the yield of cultivated plants. It is important to choose the right planting time and mowing time.
