What crops help replenish the soil while also controlling weeds and pests?
Everything needs replenishment – even soil. Growing cover crops is the
easiest way to replenish farm soil and is becoming popular with farmers as well
as those who like to enjoy their kitchen garden produce. Although the practice
of cover crops is centuries old in India, it has given way to chemical
fertilisers and herbicides. Thankfully, there is a growing realization among
the Indian farming community that these quick-fix measures have side effects
and may not work very well in the long term – hence the case for cover crops.
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| Cover crops are also called green manure. |
Also called green manure, cover crops are planted to manage soil
erosion, soil fertility, improve its quality, increases water infiltration, while
also controlling weeds and pests. Basically, cover crops are grown and not
harvested. Instead, they are left in the field to complete their life cycle. As
a small paper by Dr Lata Sharma points out on ekduniya.net, cover crops are
easy to plant and “are categorized as winter cover crops, summer green manure crops,
forage crops and catch crops. On the basis of cover crops’ importance, they are
classified into three types, viz. grasses, legumes and non-legumes
broadleaves.”
While grasses improve the soil structure with their fine and fibrous
root systems, leguminous crops fix nitrogen in the soil and broadleaves crops
make soil richer by acting as green manure.
Cover corps yield rich benefits to the patient since this farming shows
results only in the long-term. That is why experts advise that it is important
to keep in mind to plant the correct crop for specific farming system.
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| Pueraria Javanica smothers weeds and is a good creeper |
Cover crops that are ideal for India include Pueraria Javanica that
smothers weeds and is a good creeper; Calopogonium mucunoides that is a
leguminous creeper and can grow on poor soils; Centrosema pubescens, which is a
perennial climber and smothers weeds; and Macuna Bracteata, a wild
drought-resistant legume.
Trees like these crop covers, receive from the sky, the light
they need to nourish their foliage, to convert carbon dioxide to oxygen, and
to replenish the earth's supply of atmospheric nutrients.
Go Bananas - Gift and plant fruit trees today,
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| Bananas growing at Mulvany House, Kolkata. These were planted by us late October 2014 |
Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout.
No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world’s leading athletes.
But energy isn’t the only way a banana can help us keep fit.
Bananas also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.
Plant a Fruit tree today:
The simplest way to combat climate change is to plant trees: Trees breathe in
Carbon DiOxide and through the process of photo-synthesis create food for
themselves and breathe out Oxygen.
At
Sustainable Green Initiative, we plant trees to help the fight against climate
change and also hunger, poverty and rural migration. By planting a tree
through us, you help in doing your bit to mitigate your carbon footprint and
carry on the fight against hunger, poverty and climate change
So what are you waiting for?
Plant a tree today.
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of the greening revolution.
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Did you know a tree sequesters about 1 ton of carbon and processes
enough oxygen
for two peoples requirements in its life-time?
So what are you waiting for? Plant a tree today.
enough oxygen
for two peoples requirements in its life-time?
So what are you waiting for? Plant a tree today.