Criteria for Selection of Greenmanure

Criteria	Effects
High biomass production	Mobilisation of nutrients from soil into vegetation; suppression of weeds
Deep rooting system	Pumping up of weathered and/or leached nutrients from soil layers not occupied by roots of main crop
Fast initial growth	Quick soil cover for effective soil protection; suppression of weeds
More leaf than wood	Easy decomposition of organic matter
Low CN ratio	Leading to enhanced availability of nutrients for succeeding crops; easy to handle during - cutting and/or incorporation into the soil.
Nitrogen fixing	Increased nitrogen availability
Good affinity with mycorrhiza	Mobilisation of phosphorus leading to improved availability for crops.
Efficient water use



1. Possibility to grow after main cropping season on residual soil moisture or with less rainfall
2. Non-host for crop related pests and diseases
3. Decrease in pest and disease populations
4. No rhizomes
5. Controllable growth
6. Easy and abundant seed formation
7. Useful by products(e.g. fodder, wood) Integration of animal husbandry and forestry