Green manure dhaincha sunhemp, nitrogen fixation, when to incorporate, dose.
What is green manuring (dhaincha) and how does it improve soil?
TTarun Saini1yr ago · 329 views
3 Answers
🌾Farmer.in Krishi TeamExpert ✓1yr ago
Green manuring means growing a quick legume crop and ploughing it back into the soil while green to add organic matter and nitrogen. Common green manures are dhaincha (Sesbania), sunhemp, and cowpea, sown before the main crop in the summer or early rains. Sow about 8 to 12 kg seed per acre depending on the crop, let it grow 45 to 60 days until flowering, then incorporate it into moist soil and let it decompose 1 to 2 weeks before sowing the main crop. A good dhaincha crop can add a meaningful amount of nitrogen and improve soil structure, water holding, and microbial activity, reducing your fertiliser need. It is also useful for reclaiming saline and sodic soils.
HHira Singh11mo ago
Incorporate it at flowering, not later. If you let dhaincha go woody the stems take much longer to rot and tie up nitrogen instead of releasing it. I learned to plough it in while still soft and green.
YYasmin Pathan10mo ago
On my salty patch a dhaincha crop before paddy genuinely helped the soil over a couple of seasons. Give the green matter a week or two to decompose in moist soil before sowing the main crop, and adjust the rest of your fertiliser to the soil test.