Optimizing legume green manure applications for enhanced forage sorghum-sudangrass performance and soil property improvements

Green manure application significantly enhanced the growth, biomass accumulation, and forage quality of sorghum × sudangrass. The incorporation of common vetch and narbon vetch at the 10% flowering stage led to up to a 50% increase in fresh forage yield compared to the unfertilized control. Forage pea maintained consistent yield performance across all incorporation stages. Improvements in soil organic matter and nitrogen content were particularly notable in legume-amended plots. Furthermore, the highest SPAD and LAI values were recorded at early flowering stages, suggesting enhanced photosynthetic efficiency. These findings underscore the effectiveness of legume green manuring, particularly with optimal incorporation timing, as a sustainable strategy to improve soil health, forage productivity, and resource-use efficiency in Mediterranean agroecosystems.