Farmers in Kyrgyzstan adopt green manure practices to improve soil fertility

Osh region – A field day in Kyzyl-Sarai village, Kara-Suu District, introduced participants to climate-smart agricultural practices that can help maintain soil fertility, manage water efficiently and increase crop yields. The practices included the use of green manure crops.

The event was organized under a two-year regional project implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to promote climate-smart agriculture in the Fergana Valley. Implemented through South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC), the project is funded by the Russian Federation through the UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) and covers Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

The project strengthens farmers’ capacities, introduces agricultural innovations and supports the development of farmer field schools. Through this approach, agricultural producers test new methods under field conditions, compare results and adapt technologies to the specific needs of their farms.

Green manure for healthy soil

The field day focused particularly on green manure crops. Farmers grow these crops not primarily for harvesting but to mow them and use their biomass as organic fertilizer.

Specialists demonstrated the practice using white mustard and phacelia. These crops rapidly produce biomass. Their dense cover protects the soil surface from overheating and from wind and water erosion. Their root systems loosen the topsoil, improve water infiltration and aeration, and help retain nutrients.

After mowing, farmers can incorporate the biomass shallowly into the soil or leave it on the surface as mulch. As the biomass decomposes, it adds organic matter and provides nutrients for soil microorganisms. This can improve soil structure, increase its water-holding capacity and gradually restore soil fertility.

Mustard, like other oilseed crops such as rapeseed and oil radish, grows rapidly and forms a dense plant cover that can suppress weeds. However, mustard belongs to the cabbage family and should not be planted immediately before cabbage, radish or other related crops in a crop rotation.

Phacelia is not related to most major vegetable crops and can therefore be included more flexibly in crop rotations. It rapidly produces biomass, suppresses weeds and attracts bees and other beneficial insects. For the best results, farmers should mow green manure crops at the beginning of flowering, before the seeds mature.

Depending on the crop and growing conditions, the fresh biomass produced by green manure crops may be comparable in mass to an application of approximately 20–30 tonnes of manure per hectare.

Specialists emphasize that green manure should not be considered a complete replacement for mineral fertilizers in all farming systems. The amount of biomass produced and the nutrients returned to the soil

depend on the plant species, sowing density, moisture availability, mowing time and incorporation method. Farmers should therefore adapt the practice to local soil and climatic conditions and follow agronomic recommendations.

Practical results for farmers

During the field day, agricultural producers also learned about other elements of climate-smart agriculture, including improved irrigation management, soil-moisture conservation, the use of organic material, the selection of resilient crops, crop rotation and regular monitoring of crop health.

According to project monitoring data, the combined application of these practices on demonstration plots helped participating farmers increase yields by more than 30 percent compared with the practices they had previously used. The practices also helped farmers use water and fertilizers more efficiently, improve soil condition and reduce production risks associated with drought and other climate-related factors.

For 37-year-old farmer Akyl Nasir uulu, who grows tomatoes, the project provided an opportunity to test the practices on his farm.

“Growing tomatoes requires constant attention to soil condition. After completing the farmer field school, I began using practices that help retain soil moisture after irrigation. In the first season, my tomato yield increased by more than one-third. Now I see that these practices can produce good results without significantly increasing production costs,” he said.

Expanding the farmer field school system

Under the FAO project in Kyrgyzstan, three demonstration plots have been established and six farmer field schools conducted in three pilot districts. A total of 94 agricultural producers, including 50 women, completed the training.

Farmer field schools combine practical training with the joint analysis of results. Throughout the agricultural season, participants observe crop development, assess soil condition, compare agronomic practices and make decisions based on conditions in the field.

Promoting green manure and other knowledge-based practices is particularly important in the Fergana Valley, where agriculture is increasingly affected by water scarcity, land degradation, rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns. Expanding access to affordable climate-resilient practices can help rural communities adapt to changing conditions, conserve natural resources and produce food sustainably.