Green manure, also known as cover crops or living mulch, refers to crops that are grown and then incorporated into the soil to improve its fertility, structure, and overall health. These crops are typically grown in between regular crop rotations or during fallow periods to benefit the soil. Green manure serves several important agricultural and environmental purposes:

1. Soil Improvement: Green manure crops help improve soil quality by adding organic matter. When these crops are plowed or tilled into the soil, they decompose, enriching the soil with valuable nutrients and increasing its organic content. This enhances soil structure, moisture retention, and nutrient-holding capacity.

2. Weed Suppression: Fast-growing green manure plants can compete with weeds for nutrients, sunlight, and space, helping to reduce weed growth in fields.

3. Erosion Control: The root systems of green manure crops help prevent soil erosion by stabilizing the soil structure and reducing runoff.

4. Pest and Disease Management: Some green manure plants can suppress certain pests and diseases, acting as natural biofumigants or by altering the soil microbiome.

5. Nitrogen Fixation: Certain green manure species, such as legumes (e.g., clover, alfalfa, and peas), have the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen into a form that is accessible to other plants. This nitrogen-fixing capability can reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers in subsequent crops.

Common green manure crops include legumes like clover, vetch, and winter peas, as well as non-legumes like rye, oats, and buckwheat. The choice of green manure crop depends on the specific goals of soil improvement, local climate, and the intended main crop to be grown after the green manure period.

Overall, green manure is a sustainable and environmentally friendly practice that contributes to healthier soils and more productive and sustainable agriculture.

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