What is Green Manuring? How it is done under Organic Farming? Explain its benefits and characteristics of 5 green manuring crops.

Green manuring is a sustainable agricultural practice used in organic farming to improve soil fertility, enhance organic matter content, and promote overall soil health. It involves growing specific crops, known as green manure crops, and incorporating them back into the soil while they are still green and actively growing. Green manuring is an effective method to replenish nutrients, suppress weeds, and enhance soil structure without relying on synthetic fertilizers or chemical inputs.

How Green Manuring is Done Under Organic Farming:

1. Selection of Green Manure Crops: Organic farmers select suitable green manure crops based on their ability to fix nitrogen, suppress weeds, or provide organic matter. Common green manure crops include legumes like clover, vetch, and alfalfa, as well as non-leguminous crops such as buckwheat and rye.

2. Growing and Incorporation: Green manure crops are sown and allowed to grow for a specific period, usually until they reach a stage of active growth but before they flower and set seeds. The crops are then incorporated into the soil through plowing, tilling, or mowing. Incorporation is typically done when the green manure crop is at its peak biomass to maximize nutrient return to the soil.

3. Decomposition and Nutrient Release: After incorporation, the green manure crop decomposes in the soil, releasing nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. This process improves soil fertility, enhances microbial activity, and boosts nutrient availability for subsequent crops.

Benefits of Green Manuring in Organic Farming:

1. Improves Soil Fertility: Green manure crops add organic matter to the soil, enriching it with nutrients and improving soil structure and moisture retention.

2. Nitrogen Fixation: Leguminous green manure crops like clover and vetch fix atmospheric nitrogen through symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, replenishing soil nitrogen levels naturally.

3. Weed Suppression: Fast-growing green manure crops compete with weeds for nutrients, light, and space, reducing weed populations and minimizing the need for herbicides.

4. Enhances Soil Structure: Green manuring promotes soil aggregation, increasing porosity and aeration, which improves root penetration and water infiltration.

5. Reduces Soil Erosion: Cover provided by green manure crops protects the soil from erosion caused by wind and water, maintaining soil health and preventing nutrient loss.

Characteristics of Five Common Green Manure Crops:

1. Crimson Clover:

   • Type: Legume
   • Nitrogen Fixation: High
   • Growth Period: Winter annual
   • Benefits: Improves soil fertility, attracts beneficial insects, suppresses weeds.

2. Buckwheat:

   • Type: Non-legume
   • Growth Period: Summer annual
   • Benefits: Quick growth, suppresses weeds, improves phosphorus availability.

3. Field Peas:

   • Type: Legume
   • Nitrogen Fixation: Moderate to high
   • Growth Period: Cool-season annual
   • Benefits: Fixes nitrogen, enhances soil organic matter, improves soil structure.

4. Winter Rye:

   • Type: Non-legume
   • Growth Period: Winter annual
   • Benefits: Provides biomass, reduces erosion, scavenges nutrients.

5. Sunn Hemp:

   • Type: Legume
   • Nitrogen Fixation: High
   • Growth Period: Summer annual
   • Benefits: Rapid growth, suppresses weeds, improves soil health.

In summary, green manuring is a valuable practice in organic farming that enhances soil fertility, suppresses weeds, and improves overall soil health. By incorporating specific green manure crops into crop rotations, organic farmers can maintain sustainable soil management practices and reduce reliance on synthetic inputs, contributing to the long-term sustainability of agricultural ecosystems.