Alfalfa is a perennial, hardy plant from the legume family. It collects nitrogen from the air and stores it in its roots. We can specifically sow this "living nutrient depot" as a green fertilizer on fallow bed areas.

Alfalfa supplies the soil with nitrogen

The element nitrogen

In order for our lovingly cultivated plants to be able to grow at all, they need nitrogen in sufficient quantities, among other things. They can absorb it through their roots from the ground. As a result, the nitrogen content of the soil shrinks over the years.

Lepidoptera, which include alfalfa in addition to peas and beans, can absorb nitrogen directly from the air and store it in their roots thanks to a symbiosis with the so-called nodule bacteria.

This is how the soil is fertilized

First, the alfalfa is sown between spring and summer on the cleared bed area, where it can grow in peace for a while and store nitrogen.

  • Alfalfa stay on the bed even in winter
  • in the spring the ground is dug up
  • the alfalfa is incorporated into the soil
  • when they decompose, the accumulated nitrogen is released

The nitrogen released in the soil is available to the newly grown crops and ensures healthy and vigorous growth.

Deep taproots as a soil loosener

The sowing of alfalfa as green manure has another advantage, because it gives our plants an improved soil structure. Alfalfa form very long taproots, which can also grow through firm soil and thus loosen it up deeply.

Which floor benefits the most?

Because of their loosening effect, alfalfa are ideal green manure for compacted and heavy soils, which are often found in many gardens.

Alfalfa can even be cultivated for several years in a row on very heavily depleted and dense soils. As a result, they are sustainably improved in a natural way.

Easy cultivation

Alfalfa, also known as Evergreen Clover or Alfafa, is a green manure that can be put into practice very easily by anyone. Seeds are cheap to buy in stores and the plant itself doesn't require much care later on.

tips

In autumn, you can easily obtain new seed for subsequent years from the alfalfa that you have sown.

Category:

Vegetable garden