Green manure crops slash chemical fertilizer use, reduce environmental nitrogen runoff
Green manure crops like Chinese Milk Vetch can help reduce the need for chemical fertilizers in paddy fields. By using green manure crops along with chemical fertilizers, the levels of harmful nitrogen compounds in the soil can be significantly lowered. This not only cuts down on the amount of chemical fertilizer needed by almost half but also decreases the risk of nitrogen runoff into the environment. This study shows that incorporating green manure crops into soil can be a sustainable way to improve rice yield while protecting the environment.