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Rockford,il

I purchased a book called"How To Grow World Record Tomatoes" by Charles Wilber.His claim to sucess is compost, compost, compost.A big part of his compost is made up of the Kudzu plant.Luckily here in the upper midwest we dont have any.But the book did state that soybeans as a nitrogen-fixing plant would also work.I am not a farmer so I dont know much about soybeans.In the Fall the soybean plant is basically dried up leaving mainly the beans on a stalk.
When the plant is harvested is there any plant material left over and if so does the farmer save it or pile it? Has anyone tried soybeans ,Kudzu or any other nitogen-fixing plant as part of their compost regime.Any thoughts or ideas along this line would be appreciated.
Phil

1/4/2005 7:32:33 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

Soybean stems have a very low PH close to that of Pine needles. (4.0) Some farmers round bale it for bedding purposes. Most just disc it in.

1/4/2005 9:26:20 PM

Oz

I would not use kudzu. There is plenty near me.
But the chance of "infecting" my land with kudzu is too
great.

1/5/2005 7:51:43 AM

Follansbee, Wv

Most if not all legumes are nitrogen fixing. Green Bean plants and alfalfa work great for me. I know a couple of farmers who have alfalfa in their fields. When they make the first cut, I try to get a few square bales (and usually help put the hay up). Try to get it as soon as it's cut. The greener the better.

1/5/2005 9:03:04 AM