When should the legume green manure crop be terminated?
Most annual legume green manure crops should be terminated in the mid to late flowering stage. This achieves a balance between minimal soil moisture use and maximum N fixation. If the legume is not terminated and proceeds to set seed, a large amount of the fixed N will be translocated into the seed, and will have low availability for the next cropping season. Sweetclover should be terminated just prior to flowering, or in early flowering to avoid excessive moisture use. For drier areas, legume green manure crops should be terminated before the end of June, to allow as much time as possible for soil moisture recharge before the establishment of the next crop.
