Friday 25th June 2010
Incorporation green plant tissue into your soil is an economical and practical way to improve soil structure and restore productivity to unused or overworked soil.
This plant tissue can be from any source, and even digging in weeds before they set seed can count as green manure. Marshalls offers Caliente Mustard, which has been bred specifically for biofumigation and green manuring. This contains very high levels of the correct glucosinolates and the myrosinase enzyme, plus, it has the potential to grow into large plants giving good levels of bio-mass to incorporate into the soil.
Biofumigants suppress various soil borne pests and diseases by releasing naturally occurring compounds. The foliage must be crushed or finely chopped for it to release a natural gas (isothiocyanate) which effectively reduces and suppresses a range of harmful nematodes and diseases in the soil. It can also help to suppress weeds such as soft seeded annuals.
Biofumigation increases beneficial soil microbes, which out-compete pathogen microbes, helping to reduce or eliminate soil diseases, including Verticillium Wilt, Rhizoctonia, Pythium, Fusarium, and Sclerotinia (white mould).
Of course digging in the green manure also adds valuable humus to the soil and remember the finer the chop the better the result. Running over the area with a rotary mower or strimmer to chop well before digging in to the top 6 inches of soil is a simple way of incorporating the crop.
We have enclosed some Caliente Mustard seeds for you to experience its value!
Caliente Mustard may be sown from spring through to late summer for a quick crop, or mid-autumn for over-wintering in milder areas.
If you are interested in organising a Reader Offer, please call me on the number below or email me;- claire.hart@marshalls-seeds.co.uk
Regards
Claire Hart
Tel 01460 259776
