Week 49 - Bed EX7

We finally pulled out the remains of the peas and broad beans at the far end of the bed and found that there were no nitrogen fixing nodules. This was the same with other plots and it seems that this does not have any of the bacteria species particular to the pea andbean family of plants. This absence would make sense, given that peas and beans probably have not been grown in this field for many decades. The lack of this extra source of nitrogen probably reduced the yield of the peas. We will have investigate how to inoculate the soil before the next sowing of peas and beans.

The ryegrass that we sowed as a cover crop is doing well, at least in the area that had been empty, but there is still no sign of clover or vetch.