Description

Vetch GRETA – A reliable plant from the Fabaceae family

Vetch is one of the oldest plants from the legume family cultivated in Poland, known for its numerous uses and nutritional value. Grown for green mass, silage or seeds, vetch is valued for its versatility and benefits for the soil. It can be found both in pure sowing and in mixtures with cereal plants.

Vetch greens are easily digestible, delicate and have high nutritional value. However, due to the content of wicianin glycoside, the seeds have a bitter taste and are used for fodder in very small quantities. In pure sowing, vetch is used for seeds, and in mixtures with other plants as a green mass. It is perfect as a forecrop for cereals because it leaves significant amounts of nitrogen and organic matter in the soil. The plant also has strong phytosanitary and structure-forming properties. Vetch requires strong and compact soil, rich in nutrients and retaining water well. On its own, it will not grow well on light and sandy soils, but in mixtures it will also cope with weaker soil.

Uses and Nutritional Value

Vetch greens are easily digestible, delicate and have high nutritional value, making them an ideal choice for animal feed. However, vetch seeds, due to the content of wicianin glycoside, have a bitter taste and are used in feed only in very small quantities.

Cultivation and Benefits for the Soil

In pure sowing, vetch is used mainly for seeds, while in mixtures with other plants it serves as a green mass. Vetch is perfect as a forecrop for cereals because it leaves significant amounts of nitrogen and organic matter in the soil. It is also valued for its strong phytosanitary and structure-forming properties, which help improve soil structure and health.

Soil Requirements

Vetch requires strong and compact soil, rich in nutrients and retaining water well. It will not grow well on light and sandy soils, but in mixtures with other plants it can also cope with weaker soil.

Agrotechnics Vetch Greta

Position
Vetch grows best on wheat and good rye soils. It prefers compact, well-moistened and fertile soils that provide appropriate growth conditions.

Forecrop
The best forecrops for vetch are spring and winter cereals. Root crops work well on lower quality soils.

Fertilization

• Phosphorus (P₂O₅): 70-80 kg/ha
• Potassium (K₂O): 120-140 kg/ha (applied in autumn or spring)
• Nitrogen (N): 20-30 kg/ha, when growing after cereals: 40-60 kg/ha

Pre-sowing cultivation
Before sowing, the soil should be carefully prepared, ensuring the appropriate plowing depth.

Sowing date
Sowing should be started as early as possible, as soon as soil conditions allow it. Avoid sowing into excessively moist soil.

Sowing depth
Vetch seeds should be sown to a depth of 4-6 cm.

Row spacing
The optimal row spacing is 15-20 cm.

Population density per m²
The target number of seeds per square meter is 200-220.

Sowing quantity
The optimal sowing amount is 80-120 kg/ha.

Protection against diseases
The most common diseases are vetch ascochyta, powdery mildew, downy mildew and rust. They occur rarely and usually do not exceed the harmful threshold.

Set
Desiccation before harvest is recommended. Harvesting should be carried out in one phase, using a combine harvester.

Growing vetch requires careful preparation and proper management, but its benefits in the form of high nutritional value of forage and a positive impact on soil structure and fertility make it an extremely valuable plant in the crop rotation.