INDIVIDUAL ESSENCES

How to decide on the correct composition of green manure mixture?

What is your purpose in cultivating? Is it to have:

– a supply of nitrogen

– a supply of organic substance

– improved soil structure

COVER CROPS – sustainable agriculture

Cover crops

Using cover crops to go back to a sustainable form of agriculture offers several benefits; some see these benefits within a year of adoption, others see them in later years.

IMMEDIATE BENEFITS

Preventing the growth of weeds: Plants selected for green manure develop rapidly, covering the ground quickly and thereby preventing the growth of weeds.
Recovering nitrogen: nitrogen fertilisation is challenging for many types of (grass) cultivation, so the nitrogen residue after cultivation is absorbed and stored by these plants, thus preventing them from being washed away.
The supply of nitrogen from nitrogen-fixing plants: A pure leguminous crop can fix large amounts of nitrogen absorbed from the air inside the plant. Once planted, the proteins inside the plant are broken down, releasing the nitrogen.

LONG-TERM BENEFITS

The increase of organic substance offers various benefits such as improved soil structure and therefore increased infiltration ability, increased water retention, increased air circulation in the layers above the soil.
Breaking the ground surface: Tillage plants break the ground surface.
The increase of biological activity in the soil, that is, the increase of micro-organisms and invertebrates. The consequence is greater biodiversity and greater ability to react to external stimuli.

Products:

Types

VICIA SATIVA

Suitable for nitrogen fixing

Agronomic Characteristics

This plant adapts easily to different climates, but is only moderately resistant to the cold.
It adapts to clay, calcareous, deep, compact but permeable soil types. It does not tolerate prolonged soil moisture; pH5.5-8.
It has a creeping, prostrate habit.

Climate	Warm temperate
Intolerance	Water stagnation
Seeding Dose	90/100 Kg/Ha
Sowing Period	Autumn – Spring
Use	Plant in autumn-winter for summer crops.

VICIA VILLOSA

Suitable for nitrogen fixing

Agronomic Characteristics

It thrives in sandy, acidic and alkaline soil types, but it shows a good adaptability to clay and moist soil types as well. It is slower than common vetch in principle, it recovers quickly and flowers a bit later. It has a creeping, prostrate habit.
It may provide a cut, if mown before its flowering stage, given the possibility of regrowth.
We recommend planting before seed maturation.

Climate	Warm/cool temperate
Soil	Sandy, heavy clay soil, acidic and alkaline
Sowing Dose	80 Kg/Ha
Sowing Period	Autumn
Use	Plant in autumn-winter for summer crops.

VICIA FABA

Broad Bean

Suitable for nitrogen fixing

Agronomic Characteristics

A very rustic species that adapts to soil types ranging from sandy to clay.
It does not endure drought or prolonged water stagnation.
Limited resistance to the cold.
It is not very competitive with weeds if sown in its pure form.

Soil	From loose to clay soil
Intolerance	It does not tolerate acidity, water stagnation or dryness
Sowing Dose	200 Kg/Ha
Sowing Period	Autumn – Spring (northern Italy)
Use	Plant in autumn-winter

LUPINUS ANGUSTIFOLIUS

Blue Lupin

Suitable for nitrogen fixing

Agronomic Characteristics

It requires acidic soil, with moderate fertility

Climate	Warm temperate
Soil	Poor, acidic and loose pH5-7
Intolerance	Cold, heavy soil and calcium
Sowing Dose	60 Kg/Ha
Sowing Period	Autumn – Spring
Use	Plant in autumn-winter for summer crops

TRIFOLIUM ALEXANDRINUM

Egyptian Clover

Pianta adatta all’azoto fssazione

Agronomic Characteristics

This plant belongs to warm temperate climates; it is not very resistant to the cold.
Rapidly-growing plant. It does not endure acidity; pH6-8.
It prefers soil with a medium texture, but it also adapts to clay soil.
When sown in autumn (September), in northern Italy, it dies during the first cold days so it does not require further processing for the next crop.

Climate	Warm temperate
Soil	Clay, medium texture, neutral, alkaline
Intolerance	Acidity, cold
Sowing Dose	35 Kg/Ha
Sowing Period	Autumn (southern and central Italy) – Spring (northern Italy)
Use	Plant in autumn-winter

CRIMSON CLOVER

Suitable for nitrogen fixing

Agronomic Characteristics

It adapts well to loose and clay soil; it tolerates acidity pH5.5-7.5.
Excellent resistance to the cold.
After autumn sowing, one single mowing is required in late spring or May.
Beautiful spring blossoming which may benefit insect pollinators.

Climate	Temperate
Soil	Sandy, heavy, clay, acidic
Sowing Dose	30 Kg/Ha
Sowing Period	Autumn
Use	Plant in autumn-winter for summer crops

SQUARROSE CLOVER

Suitable for nitrogen fixing

Agronomic Characteristics

This plant belongs to the autumn-spring cycle, sufficiently resistant to the cold. At its rosette stage, it can withstand temperatures of -10°C for a long time.
It takes root very well during winter and when the warm weather returns, it recovers quickly and grows thick, tall clumps.

Climate	Autumn sowing, sufficiently resistant to the cold
Soil	Medium texture, heavy and fresh, also clay calcareous.
Sowing Dose	35 Kg/Ha
Sowing Period	Autumn
Use	Plant in autumn-winter

ROCKET

Trap/biofumigant plant

Biofumigant plant

Agronomic Characteristics

This plant belongs to the Brassicaceae family and it is characterised by good rusticity and adaptability to different pedoclimatic conditions.
In the first stage, it attracts and concentrates nematodes in the surface layers of the soil.
Once chopped and planted, because of the content of glucosidic and glucosinolate compounds following the process of hydrolysis, it releases different molecules including isothiocyanates and nitriles which carry out biocide action against nematodes and funghi in the soil.

Cycle	Short 55-60 days
Sowing Dose	10 Kg/Ha
Sowing Period	All year. Resistant to cold in its young stage
Use	Can be planted all-year

SINAPIS ALBA

Mustard

Plants that till the soil

Agronomic Characteristics

Well-developed taproot (1.5m).
This plant belongs to warm temperate climates; it perishes in winter frosts.
Very fast development, it suppresses weeds.

Sowing Dose	25 Kg/Ha
Sowing Period	Plant in autumn-winter or spring
Use	From spring to autumn

RADISH

Plants that till the soil

Agronomic Characteristics

Well-developed taproot (1.5m). Good resistance to the cold.
It may show signs of regrowth.
Huge biomass production, prevents the growth of weeds.

Sowing Dose	25 Kg/Ha
Sowing Period	Plant in autumn-winter or spring
Use	From spring to autumn

RYE

Restabilising soil

Agronomic Characteristics

It prefers cold, wet weather and is the cereal crop that is most resistant to winter coldness.
Ph 5.5 – 7.5.
Very early development in springtime.

Climate	Temperate, cold and damp
Soil	Poor, acidic loose
Sowing Dose	200 Kg/Ha
Sowing Period	Autumn
Use	Plant in autumn-winter

PHACELIA

Restabilising soil

Agronomic Characteristics

Great ability to store nutrients (catch crops).
Very fast development rate and weed restraint.
An important plant for pollinator insects thanks to its great and long flowering period.

Climate	Temperate
Soil	From clay to loose
Sowing Dose	15 Kg/Ha
Sowing Period	Autumn (southern and central Italy), Spring (northern Italy)
Use	It can use the blossoming period in order to produce honey. Plant in autumn-winter for summer crops (southern and central Italy). Plant in summer for autumn-winter crops (northern Italy).