green manure

noun

: an herbaceous crop (such as clover) plowed under while green to enrich the soil
green-manure transitive verb

Examples of green manure in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Lay plants on top of soil to break down as green manure for improved soil fertility. Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 6 Feb. 2024 Plant this year’s tomato bed with a green manure or cover crop. oregonlive, 21 Aug. 2021 Cover crops, also called green manure, include grains like winter oats and cereal rye. oregonlive, 16 Aug. 2021 In addition to use as an oilseed crop, yellow mustard is also produced as condiment mustard, green manure, and as a biopesticide. oregonlive, 8 May 2021 Before the green manure starts to flower, cut it and let the cuttings stay on the bed. oregonlive, 1 May 2021 Winter rye, vetch and clovers, sown now, are green manures that will crowd out winter weeds. Washington Post, 18 Sep. 2019 Another approach is to plant cover crops, sometimes called green manures, during periods between crops. Washington Post, 24 July 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'green manure.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1785, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of green manure was in 1785

Dictionary Entries Near green manure

Cite this Entry

“Green manure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/green%20manure. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

green manure

noun
: a crop of plants (as clover) that is plowed under while green to enrich the soil

More from Merriam-Webster on green manure

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