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