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 57
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Living Mulches Final Report
resource The final report for Innovative Farmers field lab trials which aimed to determine the impacts of living mulches on cash crop yields and weed composition.Compaction & cultivation, Rotations, Organic matter, Soil biology, Weeds, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Crop nutrition & fertility building, People & skills -
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 -
Earthworms - Architects of fertile soils
resource Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) Earthworms; their biology, ecology, and multiple services they provide, and what we can do to ensure they thrive and benefit soil fertility.Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Organic matter, Soil biology, People & skills, Pollinators & ecological services -
The potential of biofumigation to control soil borne pests, pathogens and weeds
resource A DiverIMPACTS practice abstract exploring the practicalities of applying the technique of biofumigation to help with pest and weed control.Soil biology, Weeds, Pests & diseases, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Roots & horticulture, Crop nutrition & fertility building, People & skills -
The End is Nigh, The End of Nitrogen
resource Footage of a discussion held at Groundswell 2022, organised by Agricology, about the impacts of reduced nitrogen use and ways in which farmers are moving...Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Rotations, Organic matter, Soil biology, Weeds, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Business management, People & skills -
Pasture-fed production - findings from the SEEGSLIP project
resource UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology The video is an output from the 'Sustainable economic and ecological grazing systems- learning from innovative practitioners' (SEEGSLIP) project and seeks to explain the project,...Soil biology, Animal health & welfare, Dairy cattle, Beef cattle & sheep, Grasslands & forage crops, People & skills, Biodiversity -
No-till with living mulches - the holy grail for arable?
resource Northern Real Farming Conference / Soil Association This webinar (part of the 2021 Northern Real Farming Conference and hosted by the Soil Association) explores growing a low growing permanent cover crop such...Rotations, Organic matter, Soil biology, Weeds, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Buildings & machinery, People & skills, Biodiversity -
Organic Amendments
resource Organic Growers Alliance (OGA) Video footage of a session that formed part of the Organic Growers Alliance's Organic Matters conference held in October 2021. It focuses on improving soil...Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Organic matter, Soil biology, Weeds, Roots & horticulture, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Natural resources & waste, People & skills, Climate -
Healthy Farm Systems - John Pawsey
resource John Pawsey gives some insights into the principles of how he achieves health on his mixed organic farm in East Anglia, following his participation in...Soil biology, Weeds, Pests & diseases, Animal health & welfare, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Business management, Markets & food systems, Natural resources & waste, People & skills, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity, Climate, Nutrition & public health, Communities & education -
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 -
Climate change and UK horticulture: What is to come and how to build resilience
resource Oxford Real Farming Conference Footage recorded at ORFC 2020 of a workshop organised by the OGA and Agricology. Rosemary Collier of Warwick Crop Centre talks about some of the...Type, texture & structure, Organic matter, Soil biology, Pests & diseases, Roots & horticulture, People & skills, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity, Climate -
Film: Three farmers come together to research no till and cover crops
resource Innovative Farmers One of a series of Innovative Farmers films shining a light on a field lab - this one focuses on no till and cover crop...Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Organic matter, Soil biology, People & skills, Pollinators & ecological services -
Agroecology in Action
resource Landworkers' Alliance This publication from the Landworkers' Alliance highlights what pioneers of agroecology in the UK are doing to create a productive and sustainable agriculture. The case...Integrated farming, Conservation agriculture, Organic farming, Biodynamic farming, Agroforestry, Permaculture, Rotations, Organic matter, Soil biology, Animal health & welfare, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, Roots & horticulture, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Business management, Markets & food systems, Natural resources & waste, People & skills, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity, Climate, Communities & education -
Testing the soil health scorecard (On-farm soil monitoring 2018–2019)
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 expaining 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, People & skills -
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 -
Ley of the Land: Integrating Leys in the Cropping System - Lydia Smith, NIAB
resource Agricology / Oxford Real Farming Conference Video footage filmed at the ORFC 2019 of Lydia Smith from NIAB explaining a project helping to explore soil quality through re-integration of leys and...Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Organic matter, Soil biology, Beef cattle & sheep, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Markets & food systems, 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 #9: The plate meter
resource Soilmentor app Alex Heffron uses a plate meter to monitor the volume of forage available in fields across his farm allowing him to improve grass growth and...Integrated farming, Conservation agriculture, Organic farming, Biodynamic farming, Permaculture, Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Rotations, Organic matter, Soil biology, Grasslands & forage crops, 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 -
Know your Soils #7: The Respiration Test
resource Soilmentor app (Based on an AHDB GREATsoils video created by Soil Association & Earthcare Technical) Use this soil test to learn how active microbes are in your soil. Monitoring respiration rates indicates the soil’s ability to support living roots and...Organic matter, Soil biology, Crop nutrition & fertility building, People & skills, Climate -
Know your Soils #6: Soil Health Reading List
resource Soilmentor app Read these books to get up to speed on soil health and how to build it for your land.Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Rotations, Organic matter, Soil biology, People & skills -
Diverse / Herbal sward mixtures
resource ORC / GWCT / LEAF / OF&G / Soil Association / SRUC / Agricology - as part of Defra Project OF03111 Organic Management Techniques Herbal leys with a diverse range of species can help resolve soil fertility problems, making forage legume mixtures hard to resist.Integrated farming, Rotations, Soil biology, Weeds, Grasslands & forage crops, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Pollinators & ecological services, Climate -
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 -
Integrating leys in arable rotations
resource ORC / GWCT / LEAF / OF&G / Soil Association / SRUC / Agricology - as part of Defra Project OF03111 Organic Management Techniques Integrating leys in arable rotations can provide multiple benefits including weed management, soil health and pollinator habitat provision.Integrated farming, Rotations, Soil biology, Weeds, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity -
Know Your Soils #4: How to capture carbon in your soil
resource Soilmentor app consortium Know Your Soils #4: “If you want to capture carbon, you have to think like carbon!” hear from Napa RCD soil scientist & farmer Charles...Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Rotations, Organic matter, Soil biology, Natural resources & waste -
Know your Soils #2: Earthworm Quiz
resource Soilmentor app consortium Learn how to identify different types of earthworms and therefore how you may be able to improve your soil management in this quiz brought to...Soil biology -
No-till for growers: Part 2 - Soil health practices for growers
resource Organic Growers Alliance Part two 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, Rotations, Organic matter, Soil biology, Weeds -
Know Your Soils #1: Meet the bugs!
resource Soilmentor app consortium (featuring video by Catchment Sensitive Farming & Innovation for Agriculture) The first of a twelve part series called 'Know your Soils, where practical tips for monitoring soil health and simple tests you can do on...Soil biology -
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 -
Why are soil minerals so important and how can we use biofertilisers to remineralise our land?
resource Organic Growers Alliance Insights into biofertiliser production emerging as an important tool in the remineralisation of soils.Organic matter, Soil biology, Crop nutrition & fertility building