Lucerne and Organic Nitrogen12.12.09

For mineral utilization AND nitrogen fixation, one just cannot go past lucerne. This legume has extraordinarily deep roots and brings up a lot of trace elements. I mainly use lucerne in the walkways, as a good way to utilize what is basically fallow soil. I cut it from an early stage, just as flowers form, and continue to do so from then on. Being penultimate to flowering, then being denied the chance, forces the plant to become biennial. This then affords an in-situ supply of nitrogenous mulch for the beds. Lucerne, being attractive to aphis, acts as a food source for ladybirds, also as a shelter belt for beneficial insects. I have tried using clover as a living mulch, nitrogen fixer, but found it to be far too invasive, to the point of rapaciousness as it practically took over the garden. The old adage ” One year’s seeding, seven years weeding” holds well for the variety of clover I chose (Subterranean clover). This stuff actually buried its own seed! I kid you not – I have actually witnessed the process. Peanuts, also a legume (viable seed readily available at the supermarket as ‘raw peanuts’), will grow with anything – then probably smother it. This is a peculiar member of the legume family for the fact that the seeds are produced underground. Not all that dissimilar to subterranean clover, by the fact that it, too buries its own seed, the nuts. The plants grow to about the size of a basketball, I have found it to be too competitive for space, to be planted in close proximity to most small-crops. However, it does relatively well with quick growing, robust plants like corn, daikon and artichokes, both globe and jerusalem. Highly susceptible to white-fly, I have had a disastrous attempt at growing it with tobacco, also a white-fly favorite. In order to produce more nuts, the plants are traditionally ‘hilled’ to assist with the seed burying process. I have found that, not hilling them, but using them as a ‘cut-and-come-again’ supply of readily available mulch material, keeps them manageable in a vegetable garden. I have found an enormous amount of benefit, and amusement, from growing them in poultry forage yards. Chooks aren’t all that interested in the growing plant, other then an excellent place to have a dust bath under – and can at times kill the plant. However, once the plant is pulled at harvest, poultry can be kept amused all day long, scratching for the pods, then trying to extract the nut.

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What Are The Medical Benefits Of Quinoa?11.28.09

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Paulownia tree Organic Nitrogen11.27.09

Possibly this is the largest, by comparable overall mass and weight, of all nitrogenous species. Having originated in China, this deciduous tree can easily grow to 50 feet, often with leaves to 20 inches across. This tree grows FAST. * From planting to 5 years, it can be felled as a stable millable timber, used for artistic carpentry, veneers, glory-boxes, cabinet making, general lightweight furniture and musical instruments; * from 5 to 10 years, it can be milled for projects requiring a more resilient timber, such as chairs and interior walls; * from 10 years and on, it becomes millable as a hardwood for construction and structural quality timber; * has a very high ignition point, and is also rot and warp resistant. * At any point in its growth after 3 years, it can be utilized to make rather excellent charcoal, for artworks. All of these qualities make it a rather attractive timber commercially. Once cut, at any age, after having shed its stored nitrogen – comparable to the biomass it has lost, the stump will re-shoot. The shed nitrogen becoming fertiliser for the soil. The re-growth can then be selectively pruned to re-start the whole plantation process. Grazing animals find the leaves quite palatable, too, and it is not uncommon to let them graze on the re-growth between the rows in plantation systems. Compatible plant species, with particular micro-environmental climatic needs, such as coffee, cocoa, lychees, or any other understorey crop for that matter, fare very well with this system. (more about this in another article) After the second or third season of growth (now at approx. 16 feet), Paulownias start to flower, adding yet another fascinating dimension to this remarkable tree. The flowers, from lilac, or light mauve to white, are produced on panicles about 18 inches long, or deep, remarkably similar foxglove flowers. As each flower falls from the panicle, they make an audible sound when they hit the ground, they are so heavy. The flowers are a prime source of bee food and subsequently produce a light, uniquely flavored, high quality honey. The seed-pod is fairly non-descript, other than that it is a dry pod containing myriad minute seeds. (more on this in a following article) The leaves, being huge, either green or spent, make an excellent mulch, or green manure, high in nitrogen. There is also anecdotal evidence of the leaves being used in alternative therapies, such as a hedge against intestinal worms. Paulownias will grow in poor to degraded soils and are often used as a reclamation species. The only apparent specific growing needs being, plenty of sun and a dislike of wet feet. Being a very deep rooted plant, and a phyto-remediator species, Paulownias take up and process contaminants present in ruined land, in return delivering masses of organic material to bolster the land. Due to the rapid rate Paulownia trees grow and their ease of regeneration, they make an excellent primary reclamation species, especially if incorporated with grazing animals. Biomass builds phenomenally fast using this method, and reclamation of ecologically ruined land, is actually assured. Indeed the paulownia is almost a miracle tree.

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Beans and pulses of organic nitrogen –10.30.09

Except for nitrogen fixation, with very few exceptions, are the best beans and indeed all the legumes. Beans, in particular, is compatible with most systems, even if the Allium family is very contradictory. Try it out. Bean plants in addition to garlic – and sulk, they look. In the family of legumes, beans and broad beans which has probably the best I've ever seen the suppliers of nitrogen. There are some periods the growth of plants, which not only sees the production of nitrogen, but are actually able to be evaluated. When considering the use of nitrogen-containing plants as companions, vegetables, must be a decision whether or not the bean is only for nitrogen levels, or if the return is anticipated products produced. I always thought that all the products of a bonus, but never really a general result of the processing of vegetables are expected to receive. It means that if I use the vegetables as plants from nurseries and shelter for a different culture, from how to extract the beans are reduced to two thirds its size. Circumcision part of the existing mulch. A party who considers manageable and avoid competition with the major crops, causing the plants have shed their nitrogen, sometimes produce remarkable results. For use and nitrogen fixation mineral, you can not simply pass Lucerne. This legume has very deep roots and brings a lot of trace elements. I use mainly Lucerne sidewalks, use it as a good way, which basically wasteland. I cut them from an early stage are like flowers, and continue to do from now on. As the penultimate of the flower, will be denied the opportunity to force the plant every two years. It thus provides a supply of nitrogen in-situ mulch for the beds. Lucerne, their attraction to aphids, serves as a food source for ladybugs, also called a belt of protection for beneficial insects. I tried, found with clover as a living mulch, nitrogen fixers, but is too invasive to the point of greed, and practically taken over the garden.

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