What are the advantages or disadvantages of the different legume crops for green manuring?
Several crops will work well for green manuring. The decision of which crop to grow will often have to be based on seed availability and seed costs as well as local environmental conditions. Some of the advantages and disadvantages of various green manure crops are summarized below. Peas – Peas have good dry matter production and nitrogen fixation capabilities in a range of environments. Most varieties have a large seed size so seeding costs can be significant. Small seeded “silage” varieties do not offer savings as they are usually priced to be comparable to other peas on a $/ac basis. A wide range of field pea varieties can be used for ploughdown and common seed is available in most regions so shopping around can minimize seed costs. Lush plant material, incorporated at mid to late flowering, breaks down relatively quickly and can meet the nitrogen requirements of following cereal crops. Lentils (Indianhead) – These lentils have a small seed size but the seed is not readily available
