Properties of mustard as green manure
Mustard has a high drought tolerance, adapts to all temperatures. Interest in mustard due to the high content in its seeds and, above all, a green mass of organic compounds (22%) and nitrogen (0,71%), potassium (0,43%) and phosphorus (0,92%).
In addition, mustard is an excellent honey plant, at the time of flowering are attracted to neighboring cultures insect pollinators. The herb is widely used as feed for animals.
After decomposition in soil mustard-green manure turns into fertilizer digestible, saturating the soil with organic matter and forming humus. Besides mustard suppresses the growth of weeds. And due to the presence of essential oils, this plant improves the soil and prevents the accumulation in it of pests and infections.
Mustard serves as food for soil worms, absorb from the soil insoluble elements, which are inaccessible to the plants, puts them in a readily available nutrient forms. This good green manure loosens, drains and structures the soil, increasing water-holding capacity and aeration.
Sowing of mustard
Mustard prefers light, sandy soil, derno-podzolic, however, feels good, and all the rest except heavy clay and saline soils. To sow culture in spring and autumn. In the spring a month before planting root vegetables and potatoes (in April) and in autumn – after the harvest of root crops.
The earlier you sow the mustard, the less the probability of damage of seedlings cruciferous flea beetles. It is not necessary to sow mustard in front of the cabbage and as a precursor for other members of the cruciferous, because the plants of the same family are damaged by common diseases and pests.
The seeds of white mustard average. When sowing by hand (without the use of seeders), you need a lot to fill them in loosened soil and seal with a rake. On a plot of 10 acres will require about 1.5 kg of white mustard seed.
The plant produces shoots quickly, on the third day. Mustard – culture moisture-loving, requires the greatest amount of moisture during germination and during budding. She is one of the most cold-resistant green manure. Mustard seeds germinate at +1 2 o C...and young seedlings can easily tolerate a fall or spring cold down to-5oC.
A month and a half after the emergence of the green manure 20-25 cm in height and it's time to mow and dig in the ground. The process of decomposition residues of mustard in the soil should come in the presence of moisture. So if autumn (or spring) turned out to be dry, need watering or irrigation.