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 1 - 30 of 31
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Sustaining our soils: Getting the balance right
resource Organic Growers Alliance (OGA) Recording of an Organic Growers Alliance's Organic Matters 22 conference session exploring stockfree organic standards and carbon sequestration, mobile green manures, Organic-PLUS trials on fertility-building...Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Rotations, Organic matter, Soil biology, Roots & horticulture, Crop nutrition & fertility building, People & skills -
Establishing summer cover crops before winter cereals in low tillage systems on sandy soils
resource Chamber of Agriculture Lower Saxony Abstract created as part of the DiverIMPACTS project outlining some of the benefits that can be attained from establishing summer cover crops on sandy soils...Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Organic matter, Weeds, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Buildings & machinery, People & skills -
DIVERSify Guide for Farmers and Agronomists
resource Organic Research Centre & the DIVERSify project consortium The DIVERSify project Guide for Farmers and Agronomists - summarising key results from the intercropping research carried out in an easily digestible way, dividing information...Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Organic matter, Weeds, Pests & diseases, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, Roots & horticulture, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Regulations, standards & policy, Business management, Markets & food systems, People & skills, Biodiversity, Climate -
Diversification of silage maize cultivation by using winter cover crops enabled by ultra-early maize varieties
resource Wageningen University & Research (WUR) Abstract created as part of the DiverIMPACTS project based on a long-term Dutch field trial, outlining practical recommendations, advantages, and challenges of combining winter cover...Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Weeds, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, Crop nutrition & fertility building, People & skills, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity, Climate -
Herbal Leys Virtual Field Day: Parts 1 & 2
resource This is part 1 and 2 of a collaborative 2-part series of virtual events exploring establishment, management, soil health, grazing and ensiling in relation to herbal leys.Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Rotations, Organic matter, Soil biology, Weeds, Animal health & welfare, Grasslands & forage crops, Crop nutrition & fertility building, People & skills, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity -
Good agricultural practice in irrigation management
resource Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) This FiBL guide will help farmers, growers and agricultural consultants improve irrigation practices and manage water sustainably.Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Organic matter, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Business management, Natural resources & waste, People & skills, Pollinators & ecological services, Climate -
Incredible vegetables - perennial vegetables and future food crops
resource Organic Growers Alliance (OGA) This article, aimed at smaller scale farmers and market gardeners, describes some perenial leafy greens, roots and alliums, including guidelines for growing and different ways...Drainage, Organic matter, Roots & horticulture, Crop nutrition & fertility building, People & skills, Biodiversity, Climate, Nutrition & public health -
Improving water quality on the River Wensum
resource Norfolk Rivers Trust A case study describing the process of installing silt traps to capture soil and water run-off on a farm near the Blackwater, Norfolk, and the...Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Natural resources & waste, Pollinators & ecological services -
Testing the effect of organic material additions on soil health
resource Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) - produced as part of the AHDB-BBRO Soil Biology and Soil Health Partnership (ahdb.org.uk/greatsoils) A Soil Biology and Soil Health Partnership case study explaining the scorecard that has been developed to help farmers measure and manage soil health, and...Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Rotations, Organic matter, Soil biology, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, People & skills -
Know your Soils #10: Soil Test Calendar
resource Soilmentor app Which soil tests to do, when to do them, which fields and where on the fields to test to get a representative sample.Integrated farming, Conservation agriculture, Organic farming, Biodynamic farming, Permaculture, Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Rotations, Organic matter, Soil biology, Grasslands & forage crops, Roots & horticulture, Crop nutrition & fertility building -
Know your soils #8: 3 key soil tests to understand your soil health
resource Soilmentor app Spring and autumn are the best times to do soil tests. Try the three most important and easy soil tests you can do yourself on...Integrated farming, Conservation agriculture, Organic farming, Biodynamic farming, Permaculture, Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Rotations, Soil biology, Crop nutrition & fertility building -
Undersowing of leys in arable crops
resource ORC / GWCT / LEAF / OF&G / Soil Association / SRUC / Agricology - as part of Defra Project OF03111 Organic Management Techniques A comprehensive guide to the use of undersown leys in arable cropping systems and the potential benefits.Drainage, Weeds, Animal health & welfare, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Crop nutrition & fertility building, People & skills, Pollinators & ecological services -
Use of green waste compost
resource ORC / GWCT / LEAF / OF&G / Soil Association / SRUC / Agricology - as part of Defra Project OF03111 Organic Management Techniques Using green waste compost to help manage reductions in soil organic matter in arable soils; reducing fertiliser use, improving soil health, and reducing landfillType, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Organic matter, Soil biology, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Regulations, standards & policy, Buildings & machinery, Natural resources & waste -
Livestock on diverse leys: a return to the past for a promising future
resource Organic Research Centre ORC Bulletin article reporting on farmers that have been combining diverse leys with livestock and some of the pros and cons of this practice revealed...Drainage, Rotations, Organic matter, Weeds, Animal health & welfare, Grasslands & forage crops, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Natural resources & waste, People & skills, Pollinators & ecological services -
Know your Soils #5: How well can your soil hold onto nutrients?
resource Soilmentor (featuring video by Catchment Sensitive Farming & Innovation for Agriculture) Find out how good your soil is at preventing precious nutrients from washing away with the rain and what you can do to reduce nutrient...Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Organic matter, Crop nutrition & fertility building -
Great Soils: Soil management for horticulture
resource AHDB Horticulture Good soil management can save you time and money. This leaflet gives you a practical overview of what to do.Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Organic matter, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Roots & horticulture -
The animal welfare and environmental benefits of Pasture for Life farming - interim findings
resource Pasture-Fed Livestock Association Pasture for Life (PfL) standards can result in improved animal welfare, ecosystem resilience, healthier soils, and increased biodiversity.Drainage, Animal health & welfare, Dairy cattle, Beef cattle & sheep, Grasslands & forage crops, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Regulations, standards & policy, Markets & food systems, People & skills, Biodiversity -
No-till for growers: realising the promise of soil health in organic horticulture. Part 1 - Helping growers who want to make the change
resource Organic Growers Alliance Part one of two detailed informal articles looking at the practicalities of applying a no-till system in an organic horticultural operation and how it relates...Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Organic matter, Soil biology, Roots & horticulture, Crop nutrition & fertility building -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
Cover crops help to reduce diffuse water pollution
resource University of East Anglia / Wensum Alliance An update from research undertaken as part of the Demonstration Test Catchments research platform established to investigate the extent by which on-farm mitigation measures can...Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Organic matter, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Business management, People & skills, Pollinators & ecological services -
The effects of reduced tillage practices and organic material additions on the carbon content of arable soils
resource Rothamsted Research / ADAS A report summaring results from a review which looks at the extent by which reduced tillage practices and organic material returns could increase the organic...Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Organic matter, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, Climate -
Contrasting soil tillage effects on UK organic spring wheat
resource Royal Agricultural University RAU research providing insights into effects of different levels of tillage on soil density, weeds, and wheat yields.Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Weeds -
Garden Organic’s Soil Information Pack
resource Garden Organic A pack introducing some essential basics for growers, helping promote understanding and improve the management of soilType, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Organic matter, Soil biology, Roots & horticulture, Crop nutrition & fertility building