Question

Which one of the following plants are used as green manure in crop fields and in sandy soils ?

• A. Crotalaria juncea and Alhagi camelorum
• B. Calotropis procera and Phyllanthus niruri
• C. Saccharum munja and Lantana camara
• D. Dichanthium annulatum and Azolla nilotica

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

Crotalaria juncea and Alhagi camelorum

Answer 2

Green manures are fast growing herbaceous crops which are ploughed down and mixed with the soil while still green for enrichment of soil. These provide both organic matter and nitrogen to the soil, in which Indian soils are generally poor. The green manure checks soil erosion by forming protective soil cover and also prevents leaching. Increase in yield by 30-50% has been observed by use of green manures. Some important green manure crops, which are mostly members of family Leguminosae are Alhagi and Crotolaria juncea.