Green Fertilizers: An Alternative to Chemical Inputs

Abstract

A participative experience in the property of Mr. Homero de Almeida, along with his relatives
was conducted with the objective of evaluating the production of leaf cabbage with pre-cultivation
of green manures. Two beds were set up which were constituted as experimental plots
and in each plot a green manure, crotalaria and millet were introduced, preceding the cultivation
of leaf kale. Twenty-seven cabbage plants were planted in each experimental plot and the
leaf number, fresh mass and leaf area were evaluated. For the number of leaves, there was
no difference between the treatments, but for the other variables there was a difference, and
the pre-cultivation with millet promoted greater fresh mass gain and greater leaf area in the
first two evaluations, in the other evaluations there were no difference. The practice of green
manuring is a viable alternative for farmers as an alternative source of input.