GREEN MANURE

• selection of judicious species adapted to the constraints of the plot and operational system of the farm
• selection of judicious species adapted to the main objective(s)
• successful implantation, growth and destruction of the cover 

Each species/mix will have more impact on some areas:

SUPPORT SERVICES FOR NUTRIENTS CYCLES

• Absorption of soluble N and S
• Fixation of N2
• Absorption of others elements

SUPPORT SERVICES FOR SOIL IMPROVEMENT

• Structuration of soil
• Stabilisation of soil

REGULATING SERVICES FOR CLIMAT

• Stockage C
• Increase of albedo (amount of solar energy reflected from the Earth’s surface back to space as a shortwave length/radiation)

SUPPLY SERVICES

• Create biomass for mulching, energy or pasture

REGULATION OF BIOAGRESSORS

• Regulation adventices
• Regulation pests
• Regulation diseases

Here are the steps that i follow here in South Portugal for the rye/vetch mix:

The plots are at the bottom of a valley with a colder temperature on soil surface inferior to 4-6 degrees than forecasted by weather forecast in odemira depending on the channel. I started on a 100m² plot early October at the first rain of 2022. The soil is acidic and loamy.

1. The plot was used for early summer veggies and the cultures left destroyed mid summer on the spot with a machete and left on the ground.
2. A layer of horse manure partially composted with some straw left in it is applied straight after just enough to have all the soil covered, mainly to cover the adventices (grasses) that are growing everywhere and to have a better substrate for the seeds. did not do any soil work or broadfork decompaction.
3. Organic seeds of vetch (1kg) and rye (2kg, locally sourced) are soaked overnight at the end of September and sowed by hand the following day on the surface. The density of seeds is higher than recommended for a cover crop. I want to maximize ground cover and paliate the impact of poor germination since there is no integration or protection of the seeds (I do not have issues with birds). I did it earlier than agricultor in area, to get maximum growth and earlier flowering of the rye the next year so that i can have the plot ready for summer veggies
4. I use a sprinkler for each following sunny day, during midday for 3 hours to secure the growth
5. The seeds germinate in less than a week
6. No further watering is done until destruction of the cover.
7. On the 30th of March 2023 i get the first pollination happening and wait that around 70% of the rye get into pollination. When the rye pollinate it uses most of his energy into it, being then more vulnerable if damaged.
8. I then use a tool i made to lay down the rye and the vetch without cutting the rye (this will encourage regrowth) and bruising instead the stems on several points (cost more energy to the rye in trying to heal)
9. I water the plot well.
10. Since I am on a small surface, I use a black silage tarp for 2 weeks on the plot to prevent any possible regrowth of the rye and speed up its destruction.
11. Afterward i plant directly into the mulch, the soil been still moist and crumbly

I did the same green manure on another bare compacted plot of 700m² that was overgrazed for years by cows in the past and left unused some years later. first using a tractor with a cultivator to loosen top soil after first rain and sowing by hand on the 20th of October before a more consistent rainfall forecast since i do not have irrigation means there.

Rye and vetch are a good winter mix for hard depleted soil