Content
Rapeseed as a green manure has been used since the middle of the last century, although the Romans and Greeks knew about its properties. This herbaceous plant was obtained presumably as a result of crossing rapeseed with cabbage. This green fertilizer has a beneficial effect on the soil, enriching it with nitrogen, sulfur and other nutrients, and also significantly improving its structure.
The use of rapeseed as green manure
Colza, or rapeseed, is a green manure plant belonging to the Cruciferous or Cabbage family. Its stem can reach 2 m in height. The plant blooms towards the end of spring. At this time, yellowish buds appear. After the flowering period ends, the pods with seeds inside ripen.
The roots of the plant go 2-3 m deep into the soil, they loosen the soil, helping to increase its moisture permeability
There are two types of rapeseed - spring and winter. Both varieties can be used as green manure.They improve the structure of the soil, making it fertile, drained and breathable. At the same time, spring rape, which is an annual plant, is drought-resistant and more unpretentious in care. The winter species, which is a biennial, is characterized by high productivity and frost resistance.
Spring rape is more suitable for growing in the southern regions and the middle zone, and winter rape is more suitable for sowing in the north
Used as green manure for gardening, rapeseed performs a number of the following useful functions:
- disinfects the soil and fights weeds due to the content of phytoncides;
- allows you to prepare the soil for the new sowing season;
- protects the surface layer of soil from drying out;
- restores soil structure;
- destroys pathogens of many diseases due to the high content of essential oils;
- enriches the earth with useful substances (nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur).
Advantages and disadvantages of rapeseed as green manure
Rapeseed is an excellent green manure that is suitable for many crops, grows quickly and gains green mass.
The plant contains essential oils that repel harmful insects
Pros:
- high content of microelements;
- the ability to sow twice a year;
- fast germination;
- retain moisture after snow melts;
- ease of care;
- frost resistance - able to withstand short frosts down to -4 °C;
- prevents the development of diseases;
- suppresses the growth of weeds;
- resistant to most diseases.
Minuses:
- demands on the planting site - wetlands are not suitable for cultivation;
- poor compatibility with some plants;
- does not tolerate stagnant water;
- cannot be sown in one place more than once every four years.
On what soils is it used?
Rapeseed as a green manure can be used on almost any soil, including clayey ones. The only exception is acidic and heavy soil. Black soil and sandy loam soil with a neutral reaction are considered the most suitable.
What to sow after rapeseed
It is recommended to plant the following vegetable crops after rapeseed:
- cucumber;
- tomato;
- potato;
- zucchini;
- pepper;
- eggplant;
- pumpkin.
After this herbaceous plant, used as green manure, you can also sow cereal crops (rye, winter wheat). It is worth considering that it is impossible to plant not only after rapeseed, but also to use representatives of the Cruciferous family (radish, radish, etc.), as well as beets and carrots as its predecessor. These crops have common pests.
When and how to sow rapeseed as green manure
It is recommended to sow rapeseed as green manure in spring or autumn. At the same time, the planting dates for winter and spring varieties are somewhat different.
Spring rape as green manure
It is recommended to sow spring rape green manure in the spring. In this case, it is desirable that the soil warms up to +5 °C. In the southern regions, the optimal planting time is considered to be the end of March, and in the middle zone - the second ten days of April.
It is advisable to prepare the area for planting in the fall; it should be dug up and cleared of weeds.
In the spring, you need to take the recommended amount of plant seeds (150 g per 1 hundred square meters) and pre-soak them in a solution of soil herbicide - Promet, Positive Plus. Then they will need to be placed in small holes 2-3 cm deep and sprinkled with soil on top.
Winter rapeseed as green manure
It is recommended to sow winter rapeseed at the very beginning of autumn, when the harvest has already been completed. It is not advisable to postpone the procedure until a later time, since the plant may freeze out in a winter with little snow.
First you need to prepare the planting material. You need to take 150-200 g of seeds per 1 hundred square meters and mix with river or sea sand (1:3). Then you can begin preparing the site. It should be dug up and cleared of weeds.
To speed up seed germination, it is recommended to moisten and loosen the soil.
Step-by-step instructions for sowing winter rapeseed seeds:
- Dig small holes 2-3 cm deep in the area at a distance of 15 cm from each other.
- Place seeds mixed with sand in the holes. Sprinkle a small amount of soil on top of the crops. Compact the soil.
- Before frost, the plant must reach a height of 20 cm and have at least six leaves. Recommendations for care
Care instructions
Rapeseed, both winter and spring, does not require specific care. Before emergence, the soil should be moistened regularly. You should not use large amounts of water, as this plant does not tolerate waterlogging. As soon as the seedlings appear, and this usually happens five days after sowing, the seedlings should be watered only in hot weather.
If rapeseed was planted in fertile soil, then there is no need to fertilize it. Otherwise, it is recommended to carry out one-time feeding. Phosphorus fertilizer should be applied at the rate of 5 g per 1 m2.
If the weed grows rapidly, it is recommended to carry out treatment. Herbicides Galion and Roundup Max will help protect rapeseed from weeds.
At the stage of the appearance of the fourth leaf, the plant is often attacked by harmful insects such as cruciferous flea beetles. The yellow bowl method will help get rid of them. On the site you will need to place golden-colored containers filled with soap solution. The liquid in the vessels should be changed twice a week.
When to mow and dig
Spring rape used as green manure should be harvested immediately after the first pods appear. As a rule, this occurs 1.5 months after sowing.
Winter rapeseed is harvested at the end of the autumn period
It is recommended to spill the mown tops with water or a preparation with effective microorganisms - Gumat EM, Vostok EM. Then the green mass should be dug up and buried into the ground by about 15 cm.
Which is better as green manure: rapeseed or mustard
Mustard, like rapeseed, is actively used in natural farming. It is not possible to give a definite answer to which of these green manures is better, since both crops effectively loosen the soil, enrich it with nutrients and protect the surface layer of soil from drying out.
When choosing between these plants, it is recommended to decide for what purpose you plan to use the green manure. Mustard works better at disinfecting soil. This plant is also most effective in controlling insects and diseases. But if you need to suppress the growth of weeds on your site, then you should choose rapeseed as a green manure.
If we compare mustard with rapeseed in terms of the length of the growing season, then for the first crop it is significantly lower.
They begin to mow the kolia approximately 40-45 days after planting, but the mustard can be harvested after 20 days
Conclusion
It is recommended to sow rapeseed as green manure if you need to make the soil on the site more fertile and loose. The mowed green mass can be used as livestock feed or mulching material.
