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The Best Legume For Cover Crop

Categories: Soils, Fertilizers and Irrigation

What would you advise to sow as a crop to plow under? When should it be

sowed, and when plowed under?



The best crop for green-manuring in any locality is the one which will

make the best growth when surplus moisture is available for it, and when

its growth can be undertaken with least interference with irrigation,

cultivation and other orchard operation. Generally in California, such a

crop can be most co
veniently grown during the rainy season, but in some

parts of the State where irrigation water is available, a summer growth

can be procured with very satisfactory results; so that we are now

growing in California both wintergrowing legumes, like field peas,

vetches, burr clover, etc., which are hardy enough to grow in spite of

the light frosts which may prevail, and are also growing summer legumes

which thrive under high temperature, like cowpeas and other members of

the bean family, and for which water can be spared without injury to the

fruit trees which share the application of the land with them. The

plants which are worth trying are burr clover, common or Oregon vetch,

Canadian field pea, and the common California or Niles pea. Whichever

one of these makes the best winter growth so that it can be plowed under

early in the spring, say in February or March, while there is still

plenty of moisture in the soil for its decay, without robbing the trees

or rendering the soil difficult of summer cultivation, is the plant for

you to use largely. All these plants should be sown in California

valleys and foothills, as soon as there is moisture enough from rainfall

to warrant you in believing they will catch and continue to grow. If the

land is light they can be put in with a cultivator and plowed under

deeply in the spring, as stated. If the land is heavy, probably a

shallow plowing would be better to begin with.



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