The generally recommneded rate of applicaton for composted manure is about 1/3 that of fresh manure. However, the reate of application is influenced by the following crop.

                                        

                                                                                                                                                              Applied Rate (ton/ac.)

Heavy feeding crops

(Potatoes, Corn, Sunflowers, Canola (wheat)                                                                                                5

Medium feeding crops    
Wheat, oats, rye                                                                                                                                         2 - 3

** Light feeders
Barley, flax, buckwheat, soybean*                                                                                                              1 - 2

* Mature Compost only

** Green Manure plowdown such as buckwheat or oil radish or red clover is recommended when and where appropriate.

The contribution of several legume species to soil nitorgen levels has been investigated by a number of researchers in the Ontario Ministry of Food and Agriculture. The following is a table summarizing the results of some species comparisons.

                                            Dry matter yield (kg/ha) and nitrogen content of some legumes (adapted from Fulkerson)

                                            Direct Seeded spring -- one cut July then allowed to go to seed;
                                            Nitrogen levels available in October

Crop                                % N Top                            % N Roots                       Total "N" Oct. 15

Common Red Clover          3.0                                        2.5                                        122.5
Ottawa R.C.                       3.1                                        2.3                                          99.5
Norlac R.C.                        3.8                                        2.7                                          96.0
Bitown R.C.                        3.2                                        2.3                                        107.4
Saranac Alfalfa                    2.8                                        2.2                                        127.8
White Sweet Clover            1.9                                        2.9                                        162.6

Note: In regards to N production, the table above shows sweet clover to be the clear winner. However, N and biomass production are not the only deciding factors in choosing a plowdown. In the organic system being employed here at Prabhupada-seva, we lack the option of herbicides so tillage is an important factor in deciding the type of plowdown to be employed. As seen in the "Frost-seeding" article, we have put the majority of the farm into Common Red Clover this year. Another 9 or 10 acres have been planted to Sweet Clover but we have experienced in one field where Sw. Cl. was present as a volunteer weed, that it was difficult to eradicate through tillage.  Since it is a tall plant, it was able to compete with a planting of winter rye which is also a strong competitor due to its allelopathic quality and tall stand.

We will report back after the next season when we work the Sw. Cl. in to let our readers know of our experience. Since Sw. Cl. is a perennial, it may be a difficult plant to control in subsequent years. It is also important to note that we do not have a wide variety of equipment and are certainly short on experience, so what does or does not work here may not be the same experience you will have on our land. But we do hope that sharing our experience will assist others in developing their own farming options.