In modern agricultural engineering, the use of green manure is considered to be one of the most effective ways to improve soil fertility. As sideratov used many plants. One of the most common options for this fertilizer is clover.
Donnik as a siderata: the pros and cons
Under the name clover (lat. Melilótus) refers to several species and varieties of plants, quite similar in their properties: it can be arctic (variety), white, toothed, yellow clover. What he is good as a siderat is the following qualities:
- it is especially effective as a fertilizer for carbonate, alkaline soils;
- able to accumulate significant quantities of nitrogen in the soil;
- thanks to a developed root system, it loosens the soil, improves its structure, and prevents its weathering;
- carbonic acid excreted by roots reduces soil salinity;
- the roots themselves, along with the top of the plant, are an excellent fertilizer;
- promotes the improvement of the soil, in particular, copes with root rot, and is also used to combat the nematode and wireworm.
Did you know? The scientific name of the clover (Melilótus) comes from the Greek words meaning "honey" and "lotus".There are clover and some flaws, namely:
- its stems form a too abundant green mass, besides they coarsen, become hard and unsuitable for fertilizing the soil, if they are not cut in time;
- the plant is subject to such disease as mealy dew;
- clover does not tolerate acidic soils, soils with a neutral reaction are ideal for it.
What crops are better to plant before
As a siderata, this plant is suitable for almost all garden crops, excluding legumes. It is often used as the first crop planted in heavily neglected or completely uncultivated areas. It is especially effective when planted before potatoes, tomatoes, zucchini, sweet peppers, cucumbers, garden strawberries.
Did you know? The clover is used not only as a siderata, but also as an excellent forage plant, as well as a valuable honey plant that gives honey with a smell reminiscent of vanilla. In addition, it is used in tobacco products as a perfume, and in perfumery - as a flavoring agent.
Cultivation technology
This biennial plant is unpretentious, drought-resistant, so the technology of its cultivation is not very complex.
When and how to sow
As a siderat, you can sow clover when it is warm enough: in spring, summer or autumn. However, the best period for sowing is spring (March-April, depending on the climate). The soil under it is prepared by loosening a cultivator or a flat cutter.
Read also how to use as a siderata such plants: rape, lupine, phacelia, alfalfa, oats, buckwheat, mustard, rye
Seeds before sowing soaked for about three hours. They are sown in rows to a depth of 3 cm, the distance between the rows is 15 cm. Per square meter of land, usually no more than 2.5 g of seeds are consumed.
Important! When sowing, to increase crop yields, it is recommended to use organic fertilizers, such as "Biovit", as well as bacterial preparations, they are also EM preparations ("EM-A", "Azogran", etc.).
How to care
Care of the tributary, as well as landing it as a siderata, does not cause difficulties. Watering should be done no more than 3-4 times during the entire growing season of this plant. In general, soil overmoistening, unlike drought, does not tolerate very well. This culture can also multiply by self-sowing.
When to mow
As mentioned above, it is impossible to prevent the overgrowth of this plant, since from a certain moment its powerful coarsened stems become unsuitable for fertilizer. For this reason, it is mown when the buds appear, when its stems reach 40-50 cm.
Important! Cut the plants with a flat cutter, treating them with EM before this - so the stems will quickly fill the soil with useful substances.As you can see, the tributary is very effective when used as a green fertilizer. This unpretentious plant does not need special care and at the same time significantly increases the fertility of the soil. It should be borne in mind that this culture is not suitable for all soils and weather conditions.
