Resources
Browse our library of the best technical guides, research papers and videos on sustainable agriculture below. You can also filter by topic.
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Displaying 31 - 60 of 72
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The contributions of organic additions on soil quality
resource Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust A useful report to help increase understanding of when and how to use organic matter to help improve soil quality on your farm.Type, texture & structure, Organic matter, Soil biology -
Digging the Dirt on Lower Smite Farm
resource Soil Association Improving soil health and enhancing wildlife on a mixed organic farm through using sustainable natural inputs and innovative cropping.Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Rotations, Organic matter, Soil biology, Weeds, Pollinators & ecological services -
Economic and ecological benefits of reduced tillage in the UK
resource Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust A guide to potential benefits and implications of integrating reduced tillage into your farm management system.Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Organic matter -
The Spade Test
resource Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) as part of the Fertilcrop project A useful video with a detailed description of how to take a soil sample and interpret it using the spade test.Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Soil biology -
Companion cropping
resource Farmerama Jake Freestone talks about his experiences of growing oilseed rape with buckwheat and vetch and highlights benefits he has observed.Type, texture & structure, Organic matter, Pests & diseases, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Markets & food systems, People & skills -
Valuing Your Soils
resource Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) 'Valuing Your Soils' will help Scottish farmers, crofters and land managers protect and manage their most valuable resource.Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation -
Making the Most of Green Manures
resource Innovative Farmers Improve your understanding of how to use green manures and the many potential ways in which they can benefit your farm business with this audio...Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Organic matter, Soil biology, Weeds, Crop nutrition & fertility building -
The Basics of Soil Fertility
resource FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL booklet offering a view on soil fertility from different angles to stimulate new thinking about a sustainable relationship to the soil.Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Rotations, Organic matter, Soil biology, People & skills -
Soils and biodiversity
resource Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Information on the importance of biodiversity of soil organisms, the services they provide and agricultural practices that promote them.Type, texture & structure, Organic matter, Soil biology, Biodiversity -
Nutrient Wise Demos
resource Duchy College Farmer focused guidance on managing nutrients on your farm, with information on trials run through the Nutrient Wise project.Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Organic matter, Soil biology, Grasslands & forage crops, Crop nutrition & fertility building -
Manure use efficiency
resource Duchy College A SWARM Hub webpage to help you maximise on available nutrients in organic manures, make savings and reduce environmental losses.Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Organic matter, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Regulations, standards & policy -
TILMAN - the final report
resource School of Agriculture/ Food and Rural Development at Newcastle University The impacts of reduced tillage methods on crop yield, fertility building and weeds; some key messages from the TILMAN-ORG project.Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Rotations, Organic matter, Soil biology, Weeds, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, Roots & horticulture, Crop nutrition & fertility building -
Above and below the ground: building resilient, productive and profitable soils
resource Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust This Nuffield Report is the result of arable farmer David Walston's explorations of why some soils are more productive than others and the best ways...Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Rotations, Organic matter, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, Crop nutrition & fertility building, People & skills -
Filter fences: catching sediment to prevent run-off
resource Linking Environment and Farming (LEAF) LEAF Demonstration Farmer Nick Bragg from Frogmary Green Farm talks about his experience of tackling soil erosion and run-off problems, with the help of CSF.Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Organic matter, Natural resources & waste, People & skills -
Forage Legumes: Difficult for Farmers to resist?
resource Cotswold Seeds Video highlighting the benefits of growing and combining legume species and potential effects on your farm soil, livestock, and finances.Type, texture & structure, Grasslands & forage crops -
Healthy Grassland Soils pocketbook
resource Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) / EBLEX / DairyCo A practical guide giving pictorial advice on assessing, maintaining and improving grassland soil structure and soil biology levels.Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Organic matter, Soil biology, Weeds, Grasslands & forage crops, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Business management, Buildings & machinery -
Visual Evaluation of Soil Structure
resource Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) Assess soil structure out in the field and identify where changes in management may be required with the help of a visual reference tool.Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Organic matter, Soil biology, Grasslands & forage crops, Crop nutrition & fertility building -
Working with Soil
resource An article published in Star & Furrow exploring the biodynamic approach to working with soil... “With what and how do we feed this soil life?”Biodynamic farming, Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Organic matter, Soil biology, Crop nutrition & fertility building, People & skills -
Practical recommendations on reduced tillage systems
resource Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) Video footage of a member of the TILMAN-ORG project outlining some of the problems and potential solutions associated with reduced tillage.Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Rotations, Organic matter, Weeds, Roots & horticulture, Crop nutrition & fertility building -
Soil: Improving Structure and Function
resource Linking Environment and Farming (LEAF) LEAF Demonstration Farmer Chris Baylis discusses measures put in place to help improve soil structure and drainage on his farm with agricultural advisor Philip Wright.Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Rotations, Organic matter, Soil biology, People & skills -
Improving Soils for Better Returns
resource AHDB This AHDB manual provides information to help you manage your soil for the good of the environment, your animals, and your pocket.Type, texture & structure, Beef cattle & sheep, Grasslands & forage crops -
Manifold green manures - Part I: Sainfoin and birdsfoot trefoil
resource Organic Research Centre An article outlining properties of two species that could be considered for fertility-building mixes, trialed in the Legume LINK project.Type, texture & structure, Grasslands & forage crops -
Managing soil biota to deliver ecosystem services: Summary document
resource Newcastle University Research identifying ways your farming practices can enhance the diversity, abundance and function of soil organisms.Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Rotations, Organic matter, Soil biology, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity -
Managing phosphorus dynamics in organic rotations
resource Institute of Organic Training & Advice (IOTA) Practical recommendations for improving soil phosphate (P) availability for your crops; maintaining levels and maximising on P inputs.Organic farming, Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Rotations, Organic matter, Soil biology, Roots & horticulture, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Business management -
Getting to the Root of Rhizobia to Improve Agricultural Yields
resource The Naked Scientists (University of Cambridge) A podcast focusing on the role of nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria rhizobia in improving legume crop yields and specific research into lucerne.Type, texture & structure, Crop nutrition & fertility building -
Managing the drought
resource Harper Adams University College Don’t waste a drop. Belts of native trees can act as an insurance policy against droughts by modifying the crop microclimate.Agroforestry, Type, texture & structure, Drainage, Animal health & welfare, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Natural resources & waste, Climate -
Simply Sustainable Soils
resource Linking Environment and Farming (LEAF) LEAF’s soil assessment tool to help you improve the soil on your farm and long-term sustainability of your land using ‘Six Simple Steps.’People & skills, Type, texture & structure -
A Guide to Nutrient Budgeting on Organic Farms
resource SAC & Newcastle University Everything you may need to know about basic nutrient budgeting and valuable insights into how using them can benefit your farm.Type, texture & structure, Rotations, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Regulations, standards & policy, Business management, Markets & food systems, People & skills -
Soil Analysis and Management
resource Institute of Organic Training & Advice (IOTA) Improving and managing soil fertility in organic farming systems though soil analysis; what you need to know and how you can do it.Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Rotations, Organic matter, Soil biology, Pests & diseases, Crop nutrition & fertility building -
Reduced tillage trials aim to improve soil sustainability
resource University of East Anglia / Wensum Alliance Interesting results from a 5-year reduced cultivation trial that took place at the Salle Park Estate, Norfolk, to assess the impact of contrasting tillage regimes...Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Organic matter, Soil biology, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Buildings & machinery, People & skills, Pollinators & ecological services