Soil Conditioner Green Manure & Cover Crop Seed Mix

Soil Conditioner Green Manure & Cover Crop Seed Mix

Includes: Forage Sorghum, Cowpea and/or Lablab, Sunn Hemp, Sunflower, Millet, Tillage Radish and Chia.

Soil Conditioner Green Manure Mix is a diverse, multi-species cover crop blend designed to support soil health, produce organic matter, protect bare ground and improve soil structure through active root growth.

Combining warm-season grasses, nitrogen-fixing legumes and broadleaf species, this green manure seed mix provides a practical way to build plant biomass, recycle nutrients and support soil biological activity between cropping cycles.

Forage Sorghum and Millet contribute fibrous root systems and leafy growth, while Cowpea or Lablab and Sunn Hemp provide potential nitrogen fixation when compatible rhizobia are present. Sunflower, Tillage Radish and Chia add diversity through their contrasting growth habits and root systems.

Suitable for vegetable gardens, market gardens, orchards, fallow paddocks and regenerative farming systems, this mix is primarily intended for warm-season soil improvement. Individual species will perform differently depending on local growing conditions.

• Multi-species green manure and cover crop seed mix.
• Supports soil structure, organic matter production and soil biological activity.
• Combines grasses, legumes and broadleaf species for root diversity.
• Includes legumes with nitrogen-fixing potential.
• Helps protect exposed soil from erosion and moisture loss.
• Can help suppress weed establishment through competition and ground cover.
• Suitable for garden beds, orchards, market gardens and broadacre rotations.
• Designed primarily for warm, frost-free growing conditions.
• Supplier-recommended sowing rate of 40 kg per hectare.

Plant Details

• Product Type: Multi-species green manure and cover crop seed mix
• Growth Habit: Combination of annual grasses, legumes and broadleaf crops
• Main Uses: Soil conditioning, green manure, organic matter production, ground cover and nutrient cycling
• Root Systems: Fibrous roots, branching roots and taproots
• Growing Season: Primarily spring and summer
• Best Position: Full sun
• Soil Requirements: Well-prepared soil with adequate drainage and moisture
• Frost Tolerance: Variable; several components are frost-sensitive
• Growth Period: Approximately 6–12 weeks for useful biomass under favourable conditions; actual growth varies by species and climate
• Recommended Sowing Rate: 40 kg per hectare (4 g per m²)
• Approximate Coverage: 250 m² per kg

Best Uses

• Summer green manure and cover cropping
• Improving soil cover between vegetable crops
• Producing organic matter for soil improvement
• Supporting soil structure through root growth
• Reducing exposed soil and limiting erosion
• Supporting nutrient cycling and soil biological activity
• Helping manage weeds through plant competition
• Market garden and horticultural rotations
• Orchard inter-rows where sufficient light and moisture are available
• Fallow paddocks and broadacre soil improvement
• Regenerative agriculture and soil-building programs

Mix Benefits

Each species contributes different characteristics to the cover crop. Performance depends on the actual composition of the blend, establishment conditions and crop management.

How Soil Conditioner Mix Improves Soil

Organic Matter and Biomass

Grasses, legumes and broadleaf crops produce plant material that can be slashed, mulched or incorporated into the soil. As residues decompose, they contribute organic matter and help support soil biological processes.

Soil Structure and Root Development

The combination of fibrous roots and taproots provides different patterns of root growth. Living roots can help maintain soil aggregation, create pathways for water movement and support biological activity. Improvements depend on soil conditions, crop growth and repeated management over time.

Nitrogen Fixation and Nutrient Cycling

Cowpea, Lablab and Sunn Hemp are legumes capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen through associations with compatible rhizobia. Effective nitrogen fixation depends on successful nodulation, soil conditions and nutrient availability.

Non-legume species can take up available nutrients during growth, helping retain them within plant biomass until residues decompose.

Weed Suppression and Ground Cover

When well established, the mix can compete with weeds for light, moisture and growing space. Ground cover may also reduce soil exposure and surface erosion. Weed suppression is not guaranteed and is influenced by existing weed pressure, crop establishment and management.

Sowing Information

• Best Sowing Time: Spring to summer when soils are warm and adequate moisture is available.
• Germination: Many components may emerge within approximately 5–14 days under favourable conditions. Some species may take longer.
• Sowing Depth: Sow shallowly, generally around 5–15 mm where broadcasting the mixed seed. Larger seeds may establish better at greater depths, so separate depth placement is preferable where practical.
• Position: Full sun.
• Soil Type: Suitable for a range of well-drained soils with adequate moisture and fertility.
• Watering: Maintain adequate soil moisture during germination and early establishment.
• Seedbed: Prepare a firm, weed-controlled seedbed with good seed-to-soil contact.
• Inoculation: Compatible legume inoculants may be required for effective nitrogen fixation. Different legumes can require different rhizobial groups.

Note: Because this mix contains seeds of different sizes, no single sowing depth is ideal for every component. Avoid deep burial of small seeds, particularly Chia. Follow any additional batch-specific sowing instructions provided by the supplier.

Sowing Rate and Coverage

The supplier-recommended sowing rate for Soil Conditioner Green Manure Mix is 40 kg per hectare (4 g per m²).

This is the standard recommended rate for the supplied blend. Establishment and final ground cover will depend on seed distribution, soil preparation, moisture and seasonal conditions.

Seed Quantity Guide

Available pack sizes: 1 kg, 5 kg and 20 kg.

Coverage figures are calculated using the supplier’s recommended sowing rate of 40 kg per hectare. Actual plant establishment and ground cover may vary.

When to Sow Soil Conditioner Mix in Australia

This blend is primarily suited to warm-season growing. Sowing times vary by region, rainfall, soil temperature and frost risk.

Planting windows are general Australian climate guides. The individual species have different temperature requirements, so not every component will perform equally well at every sowing date.

How to Sow Soil Conditioner Green Manure Mix

1. Choose the site: Select an area with good sunlight, adequate drainage and access to establishment moisture.
2. Control existing weeds: Remove or manage established weeds before sowing to reduce competition.
3. Prepare the seedbed: Cultivate or rake the surface where appropriate, creating a reasonably fine, firm seedbed.
4. Measure the seed: Allow approximately 4 g per m², equivalent to 40 kg per hectare.
5. Mix before sowing: Gently mix the seed before and during application to reduce separation of large and small seeds.
6. Sow evenly: Broadcast across the prepared area or use suitable seeding equipment. Where possible, place larger and smaller seeds at depths appropriate to each species.
7. Cover lightly: For broadcast sowing, lightly rake or incorporate the seed. Avoid burying small seeds too deeply.
8. Firm the surface: Lightly press or roll the seedbed to improve seed-to-soil contact without compacting wet soil.
9. Water: Irrigate if required and maintain adequate moisture until seedlings establish.
10. Manage growth: Allow sufficient vegetative growth for biomass production, then terminate the cover crop before unwanted seed set.

Managing the Green Manure Crop

Management depends on whether the priority is soil cover, organic matter, nitrogen fixation or preparing for the next crop.

• Early Establishment: Maintain adequate moisture and monitor weed competition.
• Biomass Production: Allow the crop to develop sufficient foliage and root growth before termination.
• Nitrogen Fixation: Encourage effective legume nodulation through appropriate inoculation and suitable soil conditions.
• Weed Management: Monitor flowering and seed development to prevent unwanted volunteer plants.
• Termination: Slash, mow, flail or otherwise terminate the crop using methods appropriate to the species and growth stage.
• Residue Management: Leave chopped material as surface mulch or incorporate it into the soil where appropriate.

When to Cut or Incorporate Green Manure

For green manure production, terminate the mix once useful biomass has developed and before significant seed set.

Cutting while plants are relatively young and leafy generally produces softer residues that decompose more quickly. Allowing crops to mature can increase biomass and produce more persistent surface residues, but may also increase the risk of unwanted seed production.

As a general planning guide, allow approximately 3–6 weeks between incorporation of substantial green manure residues and planting the following crop. Decomposition depends on residue quantity, maturity, soil temperature, moisture and soil management.

Where the chopped material is retained as surface mulch, decomposition may be slower. Some species, particularly established forage sorghum, may regrow after cutting and require further termination.

Important Growing Considerations

• Mixed-Species Establishment: Individual components have different seed sizes, temperature preferences and growth rates. Establishment will not necessarily be uniform.
• Tillage Radish: Generally performs best in cooler conditions. Growth and root development may be reduced during very hot weather.
• Legume Inoculation: Nitrogen fixation depends on compatible rhizobia and effective nodulation. Inoculant requirements should be confirmed for the legumes supplied.
• Soil Improvement: Benefits develop through plant growth, residue decomposition and ongoing soil management. Results vary between sites.
• Seed Set: Terminate before mature seed develops if self-seeding is undesirable.
• Crop Rotation: Consider the brassica component when planning rotations, particularly where brassica pests or diseases are a concern.
• Livestock: This product is intended primarily for green manure and soil improvement, not as a formulated grazing mix. Forage Sorghum can accumulate potentially dangerous levels of prussic acid and nitrate under certain conditions. Obtain appropriate agronomic advice and assess livestock safety before grazing or feeding any part of the crop.

Quick Growing Guide

Why Choose a Multi-Species Green Manure Mix?

Different cover crop species contribute different root structures, growth habits and plant residues. Combining grasses, legumes and broadleaf crops provides an opportunity to support several soil improvement objectives within a single planting.

Soil Conditioner Green Manure Mix is suitable for growers seeking a practical cover crop for seasonal soil protection, organic matter production and improved soil management between cropping cycles.

For best results, establish the mix under suitable seasonal conditions, maintain adequate moisture and manage the crop according to the needs of the following planting.