Green mulch with sunn hemp

Funkentelechy said:

Green mulch is a great idea I use it all the time, I grow outdoors.

I think some indoor growers would warn against bringing plant materials from outside into the grow room because of the risk of introducing insects from outside into the growroom.

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Avering said:

This is my first time using green mulch. I chopped down these sunn hemp plants in my backyard yesterday. It’s been super sunny and it’s been raining a lot. I used a scissor to break these up into little pieces and even blended a lot of it in the beginning. I’m hoping this stuff will be a good addition to the soil. Does anyone else do this with cover crops?

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• Nutrient Retention:
  Covering the nitrogen-rich green manure with brown, carbon-rich material like straw or leaves helps to lock in the nitrogen, preventing it from being lost to the atmosphere and ensuring it becomes available to the soil and future crops.
  
  
• Accelerated Decomposition:
  The brown mulch provides the carbon that microbes need to break down the green manure. This balanced approach creates a rich, fertile soil by increasing organic matter and structure over time.
  
  
• Soil Health:
  This practice improves the overall health of the soil by increasing its organic content and creating a better environment for beneficial microbes.
  
  
• Weed Suppression:
  The brown mulch layer also helps to suppress weed growth, further benefiting the soil and subsequent planting efforts.

cdgmoney250 said:

I do this with my cover crop/companion planting in a large garden bed. It is a great soil building practice. If you wanted to maximize the value of the addition of the green manure/mulch, I might suggest covering the green mulch with some sort of brown mulch like straw or leaves.

From Google…

View attachment 5479139
Yes, it can be beneficial to cover green manure with brown mulch to help retain soil nitrogen and promote decomposition by providing a carbon-rich layer that aids the microbial breakdown of the nitrogen-rich green material. Brown materials like straw or leaves work well for this purpose, creating a balanced carbon-to-nitrogen ratio that supports a healthy soil ecosystem and prevents the loss of nitrogen to the atmosphere.

Why cover green manure with brown mulch?

• Nutrient Retention:
  Covering the nitrogen-rich green manure with brown, carbon-rich material like straw or leaves helps to lock in the nitrogen, preventing it from being lost to the atmosphere and ensuring it becomes available to the soil and future crops.
  
  
• Accelerated Decomposition:
  The brown mulch provides the carbon that microbes need to break down the green manure. This balanced approach creates a rich, fertile soil by increasing organic matter and structure over time.
  
  
• Soil Health:
  This practice improves the overall health of the soil by increasing its organic content and creating a better environment for beneficial microbes.
  
  
• Weed Suppression:
  The brown mulch layer also helps to suppress weed growth, further benefiting the soil and subsequent planting efforts.

Click to expand...