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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 91 - 115 of 115

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
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
Compost: The Effect on Nutrients, Soil Health and Crop Production

resource Institute of Organic Training & Advice (IOTA) Practical guidance to inform your use and management of compost, using it to its full potential to improve soil properties and crop yields.

Rotations, Organic matter, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Regulations, standards & policy, Natural resources & waste
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
Crop Protection in Reduced Tillage Systems

resource Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) Pest, weed and disease management in reduced tillage cropping systems; factors to consider and actions you can take.

Compaction & cultivation, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses
Silage sorghum, an alternative to silage maize

resource Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) & Wageningen University & Research (WUR) Some practical recommendations for producing silage sorghum based on research carried out as part of the DiverIMPACTS project.

Compaction & cultivation, Weeds, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, People & skills, Climate
Towards farmer principles of health

resource Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research Germany & Humboldt University Berlin & University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Austria Ten statements / principles farmers have developed that make them successful in developing healthy farming systems, as part of the HealthNetworks Project, and used as...

Compaction & cultivation, Organic matter, 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
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
Short-term green manures for intensively cultivated horticultural soils

resource AHDB Horticulture A GREATsoils factsheet detailing the main green manure species suitable for use in high value vegetable and salad rotations and summarising benefits they can bring

Type, texture & structure, Rotations, Organic matter, Roots & horticulture, Crop nutrition & fertility building, People & skills
Transition to agroecological approaches

resource Scottish Natural Heritage / GWCT / ORC / Land Use Policy Group A case study focusing on Douglas Christie, a farmer in Scotland, who has been experimenting with direct drilling and growing cover and companion crops in...

Organic matter, Soil biology, Beef cattle & sheep, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Business management, People & skills, Biodiversity
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
ROTOR: organic crop rotation planner

resource Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) A tool to help you plan for food and fodder within your rotation and consider weed management, plant health, maximising nitrogen (N) fixation and avoiding...

People & skills, Rotations, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Weeds, Pests & diseases
Performance of UK organic spring wheat and contrasting soil tillage: yield and economic impact

resource Royal Agricultural University RAU research results revealing insights into effects of different levels of tillage on wheat yields, weeds, and costs.

Buildings & machinery, Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Weeds
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
Cover crops in a no-tillage system

resource AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds One of the AHDB 'Farmer Experience' profiles providing insights into how and why Jake Freestone of Overbury Farms uses cover crops.

Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Rotations, Weeds, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, Crop nutrition & fertility building
Characterisation of soil quality following conventional & non-inversion tillage

resource Royal Agricultural University Interesting research from the RAU exploring the effects of different forms of tillage on soil chemical and biological properties.

People & skills, Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops
Tillage & undersowing effects on organic wheat yield components & yield

resource Royal Agricultural University RAU research providing insights into impacts of tillage and undersown crops on winter and spring wheat.

People & skills, Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, Weeds
Opportunities for cover crops in conventional arable rotations

resource AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds An introduction to the potential environmental and agronomic benefits of cover crops in arable systems.

Compaction & cultivation, Rotations, Organic matter, Weeds, Pests & diseases, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Crop nutrition & fertility building
Fertility Building

resource Duchy College Using legumes and farming practices to maximise on free nitrogen (N); improve N availability, increase the amount fixed, minimise losses.

Rotations, Crop nutrition & fertility building
Sort out your soil

resource Cotswold Seeds / Garden Organic This Cotswold Seeds / Garden Organic publication provides detailed, practical information to help you select and use green manure crops.

Organic matter, Animal health & welfare, Grasslands & forage crops, Crop nutrition & fertility building
Manifold green manures - Part 4: Large birdsfoot trefoil, meadow pea and white clover

resource The Organic Research Centre An article outlining properties of three species that could be considered for fertility-building mixes, trialed in the Legume LINK project.

Organic matter, Crop nutrition & fertility building
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 soil

Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Organic matter, Soil biology, Roots & horticulture, Crop nutrition & fertility building
A Guide to Better Soil Structure

resource National Soil Resources Institute The National Soil Resources Institute’s practical guide to understanding, assessing, maintaining and improving soil structure.

Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Organic matter, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Climate, Natural resources & waste

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