green manure

American  

noun

Agriculture.

1. a crop of growing plants, as clover and other nitrogen-fixing plants, plowed under to enrich the soil.

2. manure that has not undergone decay.

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green manure British  

noun

1. a growing crop that is ploughed under to enrich the soil

2. manure that has not yet decomposed

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green manure Scientific  

1. A growing crop, such as clover or grass, that is plowed under the soil to improve fertility. Green manure can also reduce erosion and, if the crop is leguminous, add nitrogen to the soil.

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Etymology

Origin of green manure

First recorded in 1835–45

Example Sentences

"Other species of azolla have been used across the world for several thousand years as a livestock feed and as 'green manure' to fertilize crops because of the plant's ability to fix nitrogen," Jacobson said.

From Science Daily

This “green manure” will be scattered under Huarache’s 200 fruit trees, reducing the amount of water the trees need from 7 feet a month to less than a foot.

From Los Angeles Times

Composting is great for boosting soil fertility, and many organic farmers use cover crops, or green manures, to improve their soil structure and fertility.

From Salon

But he feared there was not enough green manure to replace mineral fertilisers and that using a "muck spreader" would destroy his crops.

From BBC

Cover crops, also called green manure, include grains such as winter oats and cereal rye.

From Seattle Times