Green Manuring Crops

Alsike Clover

• Scandinavian origin and better adapted than Red or White Clover to wet acid soils and cooler conditions
• Growth habit similar to Red Clover
• Lower yielding of biomass
• Sowing rate: 3kg per acre 
• Pack size: 25kg / untreated 

Black Medick/ Yellow Trefoil

• A biennial/ annual legume that can give good yields even on thin calcareous soils
• May be grazed by sheep but its main use is as a green manure under- sown in cereals
• Because of its low growth habit it may be useful in vegetable intercropping systems
• Sowing rate: 5kg per acre
• Pack size: 5kg

Borage (Agricultural)

• An annual herb also known as 'Starflower'
• Growing to a height of 2-3 feet with bright blue flowers
• This crop is commercially grown for its oil content
• Provides an abundant source of easily digestible material which will readily break down when incorporated into the soil
• Sowing rate: 5kg per acre. Pack size: 5kg / untreated 

Buckwheat

Chicory (Agricultural)

• Perennial (Cichorium intibus), pale blue flower - 3-5 cms across, light/chalky soils
• Flowers: July - October
• Height: Can grow to 1.5m
• Sowing rate: various; foreign untreated seed
• Pack size: 5kg

Cocksfoot

• Used as an under-sown species at very low seed rates into winter wheat. 
• It acts as an excellent soil improver on soils prone to summer drought. 
• Over a number of years it will provide a beneficial source of high fibrous root development which will help improve soil structure composition. 
• Sowing rate: 5kg per acre. Packsize: 20 kg / untreated

Crimson Clover

• Brightly coloured crimson flowers which attract large numbers of beneficial insects
• Excellent weed suppression
• Fixes good quantities of nitrogen
• Lower yields of biomass than Red Clover but has much shorter growing period
• Crimson Clover adapts to soils of low fertility, but does have a lime requirement.
• Biomass degrades very quickly in the soil
• Frost tolerance has shown better than expected over recent years 
• Sowing rate: 5kg per acre. Pack size: 5kg untreated

Fodder Radish

• A fast growing cover crop, ideal for failed spring crops.
• Speed of establishment aids weed suppression.
• Ideal as a green manure crop. 
• If sown July will be ready to provide cover within 6 to 8 weeks
• Sowing rate: 2.5kg/acre. 
• Pack size: 5 kg untreated 

Forage Rape

• Rapid establishment, medium-to-tall, palatable
• Above average dry matter yields.
• Good general disease resistance
• Sowing rate: 4kg per acre. Pack size 25kg.

Forage Rye

• Forage Rye is grown as a catch crop, being removed in April to be followed in turn by other forage/catch crops such as kale, turnips, forage peas or even another cereal
• If left later than April can produce vast amounts of dry matter that may lock up the available nitrogen absorbed during the winter
• Sowing rate: 75 kilos per acre
• Pack size: 25 kilos untreated 

Italian Ryegrass

• An erect biennial/short lived perennial form best suited to short term leys
• Rapid establishment, higher yielding than perennial ryegrass
• Excellent for a green manure crop
• Often sown after potatoes and maize
• Sowing rate: 14kg per acre. Pack size: 20kg

Lucerne

• A longer term perennial clover which fixes large quantities of nitrogen
• The plant has a very large tap root and is ideally suited to light and chalky soils as well as dry climates
• All Lucerne seed should be inoculated
• Sowing rate: 10kg per acre (broadcast)
• Pack size: 25kg pre- inoculated 

Mustard - White

• Mustard is a relatively inexpensive and highly versatile cover crop.
• Can be sown alone or as a companion to other species.
• Ideal for early cover, killed off by frost will create shelter for birds.
• Popular as a green manure crop - broadcast at 10 kilos per acre.
• Cover crop sowing rate - 5kg per acre
• Pack size - 10kg or 25kg 

Phacelia

• Establishes fast and matures within 10-12 weeks
• Produces a large root mass making the plant an excellent soil improver and 
• weed suppressant
• Will produce a multitude of flowers attracting beneficial insects
• Needs to be cut and incorporated into the soil well before setting seed or the stems will become woody and slow to decompose
• The plant is a good nitrogen scavenger but can be slow to release this to the following crop 
• Sowing rate: 3kg per acre (broadcast). 2kg per acre (direct drill)
• Pack size: 5kg untreated

Red Clover

• A shorter term alternative to White Clover, will usually last two years only
• An aggressive plant, providing a large mass of green vegetation
• Fixes large amounts of atmospheric nitrogen
• The plant has a large tap root which penetrates deep into the ground, improving soil structure
• Sowing rate: 5kg per acre. Pack Size: 5kg - untreated 

Sweet Clover (Yellow Blossom)

• A biennial plant which may persist for two seasons
• Its sweet smell and copious production of nectar is highly attractive to insects, which in turn attract game birds and wildilfe.
• Sown with Kale will help provide cover in the first year.
• Being leguminous and deep rooted is invaluable for improving soil structure/fertility.
• Sowing rate: 2.5kg per acre.   Pack size: 5kg (untreated)

Vetch Slovena

• Annual variety. Where vetches grow well they will provide large amounts of nitrogen which is available to the following crop
• A vigorous trailing/climbing annual legume that does best on dry, alkaline soils
• Height: 2 metres
• Sowing rate: 35kg per acre
• Pack size: 25 kilos untreated

ViTTASSO Brown Mustard

• Green manure crop with biofumigant properties
• Winter-hardy, easy to establish, cost effective
• Use to control soil-borne pests and diseases
• Sow at  2kg per acre. Packsize 10kg
• ViTTASSO Brown Mustard Brochure
  

White Clover

• Can be used in the same way as Red Clover, but is shallow rooted making little growth in dry conditions
• Continued defoliation stimulates root growth and nitrogen fixation
• A careful watch on rotation must be made as continued cropping can lead to disease problems
• Sowing rate: 3kg per acre. Pack Size: 5kg - untreated