Effects of seeding rate on hairy vetch (Vicia villosa)-rye (Secale cereale) mixtures for green manure production in upland soil.

Korean government has promoted the policy of chemical fertilizer reduction by 40% reduction from 2003 to 2013. Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) fixes nitrogen from the atmosphere and rye (Secale cerale L.) accumulates soil nitrogen to reduce potential nitrogen loss. The objective of this research was to identify optimum seeding rates of hairy vetch-rye mixtures in the central regions of Korea. The experiment of mixture rate was carried out for maximum production in 2006 and 2007. The best seeding rate mixture for maximum biomass production was 6.75 ㎏ hairy vetch and 5 ㎏ rye per 10a. Pure hairy vetch and rye were used as control. The nitrogen production of mixture treatments were higher than pure rye. The hairy vetch and rye mixture can scavenge potentially leachable nitrogen, while maintaining soil fertility by adding fixed nitrogen to the cropping system.