zöldtrágyázással

Zöldtrágyázás, also known as green manuring, is an agricultural practice that involves growing specific plants, often cover crops, and then incorporating them into the soil while they are still green. This process adds organic matter and nutrients back into the soil, improving its fertility and structure. Common plants used for green manuring include legumes like clover, vetch, and peas, as well as grasses and other non-leguminous crops such as mustard or buckwheat.

The benefits of zöldtrágyázás are numerous. Legumes, in particular, have the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen through a symbiotic relationship with bacteria in their root nodules. When these plants are tilled into the soil, this nitrogen becomes available for subsequent crops, reducing the need for synthetic nitrogen fertilizers. Furthermore, the decomposition of the green manure adds significant amounts of organic matter, which enhances soil aeration, water retention, and microbial activity. This improved soil structure can lead to better root development for cash crops and increased resistance to erosion.

Beyond nutrient enrichment, green manuring can also help suppress weeds by outcompeting them for light, water, and nutrients. Certain green manure crops can also act as biofumigants or trap crops, helping to manage soil-borne pests and diseases. The practice is particularly valuable in organic farming systems where synthetic inputs are avoided, but it is also widely adopted in conventional agriculture as a sustainable soil management strategy. The selection of the appropriate green manure crop depends on factors such as climate, soil type, the intended cash crop, and specific soil improvement goals.