Black Oats, otherwise known as Saia Oats, is the world’s most widely used winter green manure – with good reason. This temperate cereal offers farmers a number of benefits: Black Oats produce a high level of organic matter. They form a dense cover, and protect the soil from wind and rainfall erosion. Due to the way in which Oats tiller, they have the ability to effectively suppress weeds. Creeping grasses and weeds are suppressed – due to allelopathy. Similarly, particularly

Sunn Hemp (Crotalaria Juncea) is a erect summer legume that has become a popular green manure option worldwide. Used as a cover crop, Sunn Hemp can improve soil health, decrease soil erosion, improve water retention, and recycle plant nutrients. Organic matter Sunn Hemp is a rapid, fibrous growing plant - often reaching 6ft in height. Part of its popularity results in its ability to produce large amounts of biomass in 60 to 90 days. According to research conducted by Rotar &

Multi-species mixtures have become a popular approach to “cover cropping”. The question arises: What is the benefit in this approach? According to research by Penn State University, planting a multi-species crop, as opposed to a mono-culture, provides multifunctionality. If you only have one plant, you only get one benefit. Combining species enables you to tick multiple boxes. Multiple species improve the soil’s biological activities as they feed beneficial organisms. Differe

A cover crop's definition is broad. Otherwise known as "green manure", cover crops are plants that are selected to provide some kind of enrichment or protection to the soil. As soil concerns vary from farm to farm, cover crops are selected and customised accordingly - often ticking more than one box. With higher production efficiencies, the preservation of healthy soils has become a necessity more than a choice. Sustainable soil management practices, such as using cover crops