Experienced people know what siderats are.farmers. To take more from the soil, you need to give it back to her. To restore the composition of the soil and its permeability are used plants that meet these requirements. This article provides information on how to properly enrich the land with the help of natural ingredients.
The role of plants in soil enrichment
People have long understood that to restoreexhausted soil he needs rest. During the dormant period, the abandoned areas accumulated useful substances from plants that layered on the surface, rotted, and turned into compost. The roots of wild grass prevented the soil from washing out, microorganisms and worms fed on them, which, in turn, contributed to the accumulation of nitrogen. When such plots were developed for planting crops, they rewarded farmers with rich harvests. To some extent, this sheds light on the question we are discussing about what siderats are. It can be said that these are plants representing organic fertilizer, normalizing the condition of the soil. The basis of this method of farming laid an important principle - the land should not be bare.
What is sideratny cultures?
Since science does not stand still, duringBotanical studies have found that some plants have increased siderate properties. As the boundaries of farmland expanded, there was a need for accelerated land restoration. The task was to find plants characterized by intensive growth and powerful green mass. Thanks to new discoveries, many farmers have gained a deeper understanding of what siderats are and how important they are in agriculture. Secrets on the use of natural fertilizers revealed for themselves and many gardeners. Some of them successfully sow them in beds with vegetable crops and free land plots. Select the main characteristics of these plants:
- Crops grown for soil improvement grow and gain green mass within 45-60 days.
- Cut off the aerial parts of plants is an excellent alternative to chemical complex fertilizers. With regular use of this method is the accumulation of organic elements in the soil.
- At the end of the growing season, crops are saturated with nitrogen and other nutrients.
- Under certain agrotechnical methods using the method of thick-set planting, the stems create a dense wall through which it is difficult to get through the weeds.
- Long and branched roots of green manure plantsblocking the supply of nutrients to weeds, and also structure the soil, making it loose and breathable. Being rotten, they serve as additional fertilizer for future plants.
- During the growing season, the green mass protectssurface of the earth from the wind and the sun, resulting in it retains a large amount of moisture. The same function is performed by the skewed above-ground part of crops left on the garden beds. It also protects the soil from erosion.
Kinds
The benchmark in choosing a suitable plant is the family to which it belongs. There are the following groups of sideratny cultures:
- Cereals: rye, barley, oats.
- Legumes: peas, vetch, alfalfa, sainfoin, clover, broad beans, sweet clover, all varieties of lupine.
- Cruciferous flowers: oil radish, white mustard, rape, spring rape and winter rape.
- Burachnikovye - phacelia.
Из общего списка сидератов лучший выделить difficult, like universal, that would be suitable for all cultures. Each plant has its own requirements and preferences. And some enrichment cultures may even badly affect a particular plant. For example, after cruciferous cabbage can not be planted, because it also belongs to this family. Such precursors will only serve to spread their common pests and diseases.
The ideal green manure for acidic soil isphacelia Fuming and mixing with the top layer of soil, it neutralizes the acidic reactions in its environment. In gardeners, it is famous for its accelerated growth rate, perfectly loosens the soil and attracts honey-bearing insects.
Perennial cultures have proven themselves toas good orderlies. They have a strong root system, and after the next mowing of green mass, they begin to bush again. These include clover and alfalfa. It would be advisable to sow them in depleted areas for a long period of cultivation in the space provided. The mowing process is carried out throughout the entire growing season. At the last stage of enrichment, crushed greens and roots are buried in the ground. Below is an overview of the most popular cultures.
Phacelia
It is a hydrophilic plant that improves aeration.ground. It becomes light, permeable, and its acidity indices decrease to neutral. Growing phacelia as a siderata is becoming increasingly popular among gardeners. This culture is universal and has a positive effect on all types of vegetables and berries. In addition, it is worth paying attention to its unpretentiousness, drought resistance, quick dialing of the ground part and frost resistance. Phacelia likes peat, sandy or clayey soil, but can grow on rocky.
Phacelia has a fleshy trunk and strong leaves,tissues which contain phytoncides. These substances inhibit the formation of pathogenic microorganisms in the soil, putrefactive bacteria, as well as late blight and scab. In addition, the plant protects vegetables from aphids, wireworm, moths and nematodes. The field with phacelia looks unusually beautiful. It blooms profusely - lilac fluffy hats inflorescences always attract the eye of passers-by.
Oats
Cereals do well in manysoil types, but they will bring great benefits on acidic soil. With their help, you can turn loamy and sandy areas into fertile land, achieve permeability and accumulation of nitrogen and potassium. Oats as siderat sow for healing and loosening the soil. In particular, it enriches the earth with such macronutrients as potassium and phosphorus. Thanks to a powerful root system that can change the structure of a heavy soil, water and air can easily penetrate into its deeper layers. If the grass is sown along with vegetable crops on light soil, it will protect its upper layer from erosion and provide the plants with moisture.
Oat roots contain a substance that canprevent the growth of bacteria. Using this plant siderat for several years, you insure your garden against pathogens of fungal infections and root rot. Meanwhile, it is important to remember that crops for soil enrichment need to be changed periodically. In order to sufficiently saturate the earth with essential trace elements, especially nitrogen, oats are combined with other fast-growing crops, such as peas or vetch.
Mustard
How Siderate Mustard is the most famousA plant at amateur gardeners. She won her position due to the unpretentiousness and availability of seed material. Green biomass is widely used as a fertilizer, burying it in the ground. It attracts a large number of beneficial microorganisms that quickly process it and turn it into soil. Very deep roots structure the soil well and make it porous. Substances that produce a nutrient system, detrimental effect on the wireworm.
If in early spring you sow mustard in the area of tree trunks, then during its flowering, as well as the flowering of the fruit plants themselves, honey insects will fly to its scent.
When planting in the autumn, the culture after the snow melts will trap moisture. This will prevent the earth from cracking and wind erosion.
Mustard as a siderat serves as a good defense againstharmful grass - where it grows, weeds simply do not appear. In order for the plant to fulfill all its functions, it should be sown only in moist soil.
What crops are suitable for growing potatoes
Since the potato is called the second bread, thisculture is often grown in large quantities. Being a monoculture, it significantly depletes the soil. Often it is not always possible to make a crop rotation, so the problem is solved by sowing auxiliary crops. To achieve maximum results, prepare certain mixtures from different seeds of siderates. For potato plants are selected based on what conditions can provide him concomitant culture. After all, for the normal formation of tubers need a well-structured soil. Potatoes are prone to many diseases, so they need a satellite that can suppress specific infections. It is also important the presence of trace elements in the biomass of sideratny plants. Consider the characteristics of individual crops and some mixtures:
- A good option in this regard would bea combination of peas with oats. Legumes are most often used by gardeners because of the high nitrogen content. Such plants are different lush green mass. In this case, oats as siderat acts as an additional culture.
- If only cereals are grown between rows of potatoes, this can attract wireworms. However, they can be sown in the fall, after harvest.
- Buckwheat is rich in potassium and phosphorus, which are necessary for the development of root crops. She quickly gains biomass, works well on heavy ground.
- Cultivation of phacelia as a sideratain the beds with potatoes confirmed by time. The results of many years of testing have shown that this plant copes well with the nematode, wireworm and provides reliable protection against weeds.
- Mustard contains sulfur and phosphorus, has a short growing season, which allows you to get a green mass several times.
- Lupine is identical in properties to freshmanure, but, unlike him, is absorbed much faster. This is due to the content in the plant tissues of organic acids, which interact well with the minerals in the soil.
- Another effective plant is flax. In addition to siderat functions, it helps to fight the Colorado beetles.
Siderates for potatoes should be alternated. Even the most suitable plant eventually goes into the status of a monoculture and does not have a positive effect on the soil.
It is necessary to follow the rules of agrotechnology when sowing seeds. Too dense landings, as well as thinned ones, will not give proper results. Seed consumption is always indicated on the package.
And most importantly - green fertilizers can not be brought to the stage of flowering. Biomass is cut off during the period of milk maturity. Old, coarse raw materials will rot very slowly and can cause a lot of damage.
Plant Selection
Before you buy green manure for the garden, you needdetermine what tasks you are going to solve with green fertilizers. Consider what you need to pay attention to not make a mistake in choosing a culture:
- Если ваш огород страдает от нашествия слизней или Medvedki, better sow mustard. These pests are able to destroy the crop of carrots and potatoes, as well as sharpen small bushes seedlings. Sulfur compounds, which mustard contains, suppress pathogenic microflora, which, in turn, helps to improve the soil.
- Карбонатный или засоленный грунт может normalize the representative of the family of legumes. We are talking about sweet clover, which is considered a medicinal plant and an excellent honey plant. Having a beneficial effect on this kind of soil, it simultaneously deters rodents and attracts beneficial insects.
- Plant as much as possible to enrich the landlupine. In addition, it provides the perfect structuring of the soil. Its taproot goes deep into the ground (2 m) and drains it. This plant is afraid of the bear and Maybirds.
- На участке, где в последующие годы будут расти vegetables, demanding nitrogen, it is better to plant legumes. With their help, you can quickly restore poor soil - for the season, these crops allow you to carry out several hacks. It is worth paying attention to alfalfa, because its biomass has a high digestibility.
- If you need raw materials for compost heaps or mulch material, sow oilseed radish, which is capable of producing a large amount of green fertilizer.
Novice gardeners often wonderwhen to sow siderats. Seeding of plant-dressers can be carried out both before planting the main crop and after harvesting it. The only thing - you need to figure out which type of natural fertilizer is suitable for a particular season. About it further.
Spring landing
К самым ранним относят яровой рапс, фацелию, rape and mustard. They are good precursors for tomatoes and peppers. Landing green manure is easy: you need to calculate the number of seeds on the allotted land area, scatter them on the site and level the surface with a rake. When the plants gain enough green mass, it should be put on fertilizer before the budding process. There are three ways to use biological fertilizer:
- Two weeks before transplanting, plantings are driven into the ground. However, this method compared with the others is not so effective.
- Стебли культур срезают, а корни оставляют в ground. At the same time, the flat cutter is installed in such a way that when mowing the ground is captured (about 2 cm). Then vegetables are planted in the garden, and cut greens are left on the surface.
- Если сидераты находятся на стадии вегетативного development, then you can plant seedlings between them. As long as they grow together, healthy crops will be weatherproof. Upon reaching the desired growth, green fertilizers are cut and they create a layer of mulch. When she podyalyatsya a little, you can lay on top of any grass or hay.
Autumn Seeding
Most often, they sow mustard or rye before winter.In the fall, siderata grown after harvesting the main crops. Usually this time falls on a period that lasts from the end of August until the beginning of October. Rye removed before the cold until the earing. It is cut in the area of the tillering knot and left in the garden. Mustard grows to the frost and even during the first snow. It is usually left until spring. In March, its tops are mowed with a flat-cutter, or the main plants are planted right along its remains.
After harvesting the early vegetables can be grown andother types of green fertilizer. Choosing a green manure for the garden, you should always consider the term of their full development. If you understand that the cold weather is still far away, then sow heat-loving plants. For example, after harvesting early potatoes or garlic, phacelia, oil radish, and spring rye will have enough time to grow. These are suitable predecessors for cucumbers.
Conclusion
Now that you know what siderats are,Feel free to use these plants to heal the soil. Organic farming methods significantly increase the amount of the harvested crop. With proper and regular application of natural fertilizers, you save your garden from the accumulation of nitrates, since this method of restoring the soil frees the farmer from the use of chemicals.
