Green manure is a crop grown specifically to be incorporated into the soil while still green, adding organic matter and nutrients, particularly nitrogen when legumes are used, and is a recognised technique within organic and low-input farming systems that support certification and soil fertility.
In trade practice
In organic pulse and grain production in Ukraine, green manure crops such as clover or vetch are used between cash crop cycles to build soil nitrogen and reduce the need for permitted external inputs. Organic certification auditors may review field records to confirm that green manure use is consistent with the farm’s soil management plan. Buyers sourcing certified organic products should be aware that green manure rotations can affect the timing and volume of cash crop availability in a given season.
In a specification
Organic certification standards require that soil improvement practices, including green manure use, are recorded in the farm management plan and available for inspection by the approved control body.