Ecological fertilizers
The technique of ecological fertilizing consists of putting leguminous or forrage plants into land which is left unused between two plantings. They are then buried in the soil - this captures the nitrogen in them and then feeds your plants.
This technique is used by gardeners who want to put a bit of new life back into the soil.
The leguminous and fodder plants are grown on a parcel of land left fallow between two plantings. They are then buried in the soil after flowering. The dense foliage, once buried, rapidly ferments and naturally increases the amount of organic material in the soil (humus and nitrogen).
This technique not only puts nitrogen into the soil, it also improves the drainage of the soil and keeps the earth in place, preventing it from eroding , as the dense root system of the buried plants keeps the soil in place. The structure of the soil is thus improved physically, chemically and biologically. Another advantage of this method is that it stops weeds from invading the area. Sowing is usually done in Spring before the first plantings or in Autumn after harvesting.
Many diffferent plants are used as ecological fertilizers. Which ones depends on the type of soil and on the needs of the plants to be grown. Generally, fodder and leguminous plants are used, like clover and burclover, or non-leguminous plants like mustard, phacelia, or vetches. Other plants like rape, buckwheat, rye, cabbage, ryegrass and white lupin are also used.
Choose the type of ecological fertilizer which best suits your soil : white mustard, for example, grows quickly and is a natural insecticide. Phacelia is also an efficient insecticide as well as being a good retainer of nitrogen - its dense, thin roots smother the weeds. Fodder rape is nitrogen-rich but its strong roots make it difficult to bury. Reygrass (Italian or English) is ideal for fallow land as it protects the soil from erosion (though it tends to attract damaging insects). Clover (crimson or red) is ideal for cruciferous plants like cabbage, turnips and rape, as it is rich in nitrogen.