User:CloverShea/Green manure

Article Draft

Outline for peer review

Improvement Objectives

1. Add at least 3 citations to the summary paragraph
2. Adding 1-2 sentences on the tradition of using Green Manure in rice paddies in the history section
3. Adding at least 2 more citations and 2 sentences on the application process and limitations of green manure

Becker, M., et al. “Green Manure Technology: Potential, Usage, and Limitations. A Case Study for Lowland Rice.” Plant and Soil, vol. 174, no. 1–2, July 1995, pp. 181–94. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00032246.

1. Becker et al. studies the limitations of green manure use for low land rice when looking at the cost and efficiency of the whole farm. The evidence found supports the claim that green manure is not the best option for low-land rice systems because of their short growing spans and the high cost.
2. I will use these limitations in the functions section or add this to the first paragraph and show how the conditions and costs must be considered when choosing green manure

Fageria, N. K. “Green Manuring in Crop Production.” Journal of Plant Nutrition, vol. 30, no. 5, May 2007, pp. 691–719. Taylor and Francis+NEJM, https://doi.org/10.1080/01904160701289529.

1. "Green Manuring in Crop Production" explains the need for green manures specifically because of our increase in chemical fertilizers. If we use green manures then we can lower the chance of nitrate leaching and the soil will retain the nitrogen for the next batch of crops.
2. I will use this article in adding to history section of the article and how it originates as an ancient practice. I can also use this to add citations to the function section of the article

Gill, Kajal, et al. “Role Of Green Manuring In Sustainable Agriculture: A Review.” European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine, vol. 7, European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine, 2020, pp. 2361–66, https://ejmcm.com/article_4921_103b831ce921509f4d1b921476767965.pdf.

4. Role Of Green Manuring In Sustainable Agriculture: A Review

1. Green manure is simply the green plants that are mixed into the soil to keep the nutrients locked in.
2. The simplicity of this green manure definition will be a great addition to the first paragraph with a citation.

Kumar, Ravindra, et al. “Green Manuring: A Boon for Sustainable Agriculture and Pest Management – A Review.” Agricultural Reviews, vol. 35, no. 3, 2014, p. 196. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.5958/0976-0741.2014.00906.4.

1. We are facing a huge problem in agriculture because we must produce enough food for our growing population without completely ruining our soil. We also use chemicals for pest management (weeds and pests) and can use green manures that hurt our human and soil health. We can use so many crops as green manures to combat this harm.
2. I will use this article to add more citations to the functions section of the article and possibly the first paragraph for the general context for why we need them.

Lei, Beining, et al. “Ecological and Environmental Benefits of Planting Green Manure in Paddy Fields.” Agriculture, vol. 12, no. 2, Feb. 2022, p. 223. www.mdpi.com, https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12020223.

1. Lei et al. summarizes the use of green manure in traditional agriculture that has always been sustainable and for newer sustainable farms. Defines green manure as a plant based fertilizer for cash crops and makes the soil a better home for future plants.
2. I will use this article in the first paragraph to define green manure and its history in rice paddies for the history section. The article also provides evidence supporting that green manure can reduce GHG emissions.

Goals for Draft

1. create a new section for the method of application green manure with at least 3 sentences and 2 citations
2. create a new section on the limitations of green manure with at least 3 sentences and 2 citations
3. Add 1-2 sentences in the history section on rice paddy systems from the Lei et. al paper

Method of Application

Farmers apply green manure by blending available plant discards into the soil. Farmers begin the process of green manuring by growing legumes or collecting tree/shrub clippings.  Harvesters gather the green manure crops and mix the plant material into the soil. The un-decomposed plants prepare the ground for cash crops by slowly releasing nutrients like nitrogen into the soil.

The manure can be added before the cash crop or after like in rice farming. Soil makeup, selected crop, selected green manure, humidity, sunlight, and placement method all come together to makeup the effectiveness of the green manure. Green manures create the largest yields when used with chemical fertilizers as a way to reduce our use of chemical fertilizers. When used alone, we cannot see all the advantages of green manures.

Limitations of Green Manure

Managing green manure improperly or without additional chemical inputs may limit crop production. Mixing green manures into the soil without enough time before crop planting could stop the flow of nitrogen (nitrogen immobilization). When nitrogen stops flowing there won't be enough nutrients for the next crop planting. Farming systems with short growth spans for green manure are not usually efficient. Farmers must weigh the cost of green manures with their productivity to determine suitability.

History

Start Section with: We have been using green manures since ancient times. Farmers could only use organic fertilizers before the invention of chemical nitrogen fertilizer.

Replace: In Ancient Greece too, farmers plowed broad beans and faba beans into the soil." with We have evidence for the Greeks plowing broad beans and faba beans into the soil around 300 B.C. The Romans also used green manures like faba beans and lupines to make their soil more fertile.

Extra information to add to methods

yellow pea bush (Sesbania cannabina ) = usually used in tropical regions like Africa and Asia with lots of humidity and incorporated pre-rice

Astragalus sinicus (Chinese milkvetch) = use post rice/after rice has been planted for cooler area of the tropics

extra information to add to functions

- for last bullet in function page: rotating green manures with cash crops stops diseases from spreading because disease cannot be passed to the next plant (Fageria)