Hi all,
Currently I'm doing my first indoor organic grow in living soil.
Previously I grew chem in coco for years. So I'm an organic newbie.
Recently I came across the concept for using 'Nitrogen fixing plants' as a living mulch layer.
I understand that Nitrogen fixing plants manage to pull N out from the air through symbiosis with Rhizobia bacteria and the formation of 'root nodules'. Acting as storage space for Nitrogen. And after the coverplants dead the root nodules will release the N to the soil through decay.
Nitrogen Fixing plants:
https://www.permaculture.co.uk/articles/nitrogen-fixing-plants-microbes
Root nodule:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root_nodule
Rhizobia bacteria:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhizobia
My soil was already inoculated with a product named Bio Bacto which contain Rhizo bacteria which I hope are the correct kind.
https://www.guanokalong-shop.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=69&product_id=68
I have now placed an order for some clover and alfalfa seeds.
My question is now would it be truly beneficial for using Nitrogen fixing plants as a living mulch layer instead of the layer of old fan leaves I have now?
Currently I'm doing my first indoor organic grow in living soil.
Previously I grew chem in coco for years. So I'm an organic newbie.
Recently I came across the concept for using 'Nitrogen fixing plants' as a living mulch layer.
I understand that Nitrogen fixing plants manage to pull N out from the air through symbiosis with Rhizobia bacteria and the formation of 'root nodules'. Acting as storage space for Nitrogen. And after the coverplants dead the root nodules will release the N to the soil through decay.
Nitrogen Fixing plants:
https://www.permaculture.co.uk/articles/nitrogen-fixing-plants-microbes
Root nodule:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root_nodule
Rhizobia bacteria:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhizobia
My soil was already inoculated with a product named Bio Bacto which contain Rhizo bacteria which I hope are the correct kind.
https://www.guanokalong-shop.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=69&product_id=68
I have now placed an order for some clover and alfalfa seeds.
My question is now would it be truly beneficial for using Nitrogen fixing plants as a living mulch layer instead of the layer of old fan leaves I have now?