What makes alfalfa so good as green manure: a favorite plant of many gardeners

30.07.2023 15:30

If you want to increase the fertility of your soil while making it healthier, consider alfalfa.

BelNovosti online publication expert, agronomist and landscape designer Anastasia Kovrizhnykh explained why this plant is popular among summer residents.

To begin with, it is worth noting its quality as undemandingness - frankly speaking, alfalfa does not care where it grows.

Whether it gets cold or there is a drought, it doesn’t matter to her.

But let's be honest: in order for the plant to be able to grow as much green mass as possible, the beds should be watered for the first time after sowing (if it is dry outside).

Alfalfa
Photo: Pixabay

After the alfalfa has been mown (from the moment of planting to the time when it is worth picking up a scythe, an average of 1.5 months passes), you can plant almost any crop, with the exception of members of the legume family.

Benefits of Alfalfa

Now is the time to tell you why you should choose alfalfa.

In terms of nutritional value, this green manure can be compared to manure, which makes the soil fertile. In addition, the soil structure improves, and due to the presence of phytoncides, it becomes healthier.

The plant removes pathogens and pests from the area, while worms, on the contrary, are attracted to alfalfa, as are soil bacteria.

A small thing, but nice: alfalfa can also affect the acidity of the soil, reducing it.

Elena Shimanovskaya Author: Elena Shimanovskaya Internet resource editor