game cover mixtures - Countrywide Farmers

42Green Manuring Cropsfor Spring Sowing and Summer IncorporationSpring sown, summer crops areusually annual crops that as a ruledo not tolerate frost. They are quickgrowing and will suppress weeds bylight deprivation as well as providingorganic material to improve soilstructure and organic status. As theyare usually fleshy crops and do notcontain high proportions of carbonwhen incorporated into the soil, theydo not substantially reduce stocks ofsoil nitrogen to break down the plantstructure.Alsike CloverOf Scandinavian origin and better adapted than Red orWhite Clover to wet acid soils and cooler conditions,although lower yielding of biomass. Growth habit issimilar to Red Clover.MustardMustard comes in two forms, White (Sinapis alba)and Brown (Brassica juncea). Both are quick growingand therefore useful for short term scenarios. Both typesproduce large quantities of biomass and are excellentscavengers of nitrogen. They both possess biofumigationproperties (but brown mustard more so) and can thereforehelp to reduce wireworm populations. Unlike whitemustard, brown mustard is winter hardy and is especiallyuseful as over-wintering green cover after maize, potatoesand sugar beet, reducing soil erosion, fertiliser leaching andwater run-off.White Sowing rate 5kg/acre Pack size 5kg and 25kg untreated(Organic white available in 25kg packs)Brown Sowing rate 2-3kg/acre Pack size 5kg untreatedCrimson CloverBrightly coloured crimson flowers which attract largenumbers of beneficial insects. Excellent weed suppression.Fixes good quantities of nitrogen. Lower yields of biomassthan Red Clover but has much shorter growing period.Crimson Clover adapts to soils of low fertility, but doeshave a lime requirement. Biomass degrades very quicklyin the soil.Phacelia - Bee HappyA prolific seeder, very fast to establish and a good weedsuppressant. It produces a mass of flowers providing agood source of nectar for beneficial insects but It needs tobe cut and incorporated into the soil before setting seed orthe stems will become woody and slow to decompose. Agood Nitrogen scavenger but it can be slow to release anyN to the following crops.Pack size 1kg & 5kg untreatedBuckwheatA very quick growing, fast maturing annual with excellentweed suppression. Somewhat shallow rooted but has thecapability of scavenging phosphorus from the soil andholding this for later incorporation. The plant will re-grow ifcut after the onset of flowering so is excellent for mulching.The plant will tolerate infertile soil but performs badly onheavy, wet, or compacted soils. Frost tolerance is poor.Pack size 5kg untreatedBlack Medick/Yellow TrefoilA biennial/annual legume that can give good yields evenon thin calcareous soils. It may be grazed by sheep butits main use is as a green manure under-sown in cereals.Because of its low growth habit it may be useful invegetable intercropping systems.Pack size 1kg & 25kg untreatedBORAGEBorage, also known as Starflower, is an annual herb, growingto a height of 2-3 feet with bright blue flowers; there is alsoa white flowered variation. The crop was traditionallygrown for culinary and medicinal uses, although the cropis commercially grown today for its oil content.The crop, because of its large leaves and succulent growth,can be used as a green manure crop if sown in the spring,the leaves providing an abundant source of easily digestiblematerial which will readily break down when incorporatedinto the soil without reducing the mineral N content withinthe soil structure.Sowing rate 5kg/acrePack size 5kg untreatedPack size 25kg untreatedPack size 1kg & 25kg untreated