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 121 - 150 of 163
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Trees in Orchards
resource Best Foot Forward sustainability consultants An in-depth evaluation of the use of non-cropping trees in orchard fruit production, the potential benefits and conflicting issues.Agroforestry, Natural resources & waste, People & skills, Roots & horticulture, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity -
Chickweed
resource IBERS Grassland Development Centre as part of Farming Connect Information taken from the Farming Connect factsheet 'Weed Control in Grass and Forage Crops' to help you prevent establishment and spread of chickweed on your...Weeds, Grasslands & forage crops, People & skills -
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 -
Novel vegetables: Observations on growing a range of tropical crops
resource Duchy College / Farm Cornwall Interested in diversifying? Perhaps growing some tropical crops? This report provides some useful insights from some trials run in West Cornwall.Weeds, Pests & diseases, Roots & horticulture, Markets & food systems -
Traditional orchards: Wildlife
resource Natural England Traditional orchards are a haven for wildlife - simple management techniques can help increase populations of rare and priority species.Agroforestry, Roots & horticulture, People & skills -
Traditional orchards: maintenance pruning
resource Natural England This information note provides guidance on the reasons for the routine pruning of fruit trees and advice on the different methods used.Agroforestry, Roots & horticulture, People & skills -
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 -
Sward enhancement: diversifying grassland by spreading species-rich green hay
resource Natural England Practical guidance to help you assess suitability of using green hay as a sward enhancement method and best management techniques to apply.Grasslands & forage crops, Natural resources & waste -
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 -
PFLA Biodiversity case studies
resource A series of Pasture-Fed Livestock Association (PFLA) case studies which focus on various ways in which farmers are increasing biodiversity on their farm.Animal health & welfare, Dairy cattle, Beef cattle & sheep, Grasslands & forage crops, People & skills, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity, Climate -
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 -
Which nutrient management system to use?
resource Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) Regular soil tests and recommendations associated with them can be vital tools to help ensure best possible crop yield and quality from any soil type...Crop nutrition & fertility building, People & skills -
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 bringType, texture & structure, Rotations, Organic matter, Roots & horticulture, Crop nutrition & fertility building, People & skills -
Weed management in organic crops
resource Garden Organic A series of leaflets divided in to different crop types covering the weed management options available to you within an organic system.Organic farming, Weeds, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, Roots & horticulture, 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 -
Intercropping grain peas with barley
resource OK-Net Arable project consortium (co-ordinated by IFOAM EU Group) Practical recommendations for exploring the viability of combining grain peas with barley on your farm.Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, Roots & horticulture, People & skills -
Charlock Management in Organic Systems
resource Garden Organic Leaflet summarising methods of prevention and control of charlock in organic systems.Weeds, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, People & skills -
Organic potatoes - Technical guide
resource Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) & Organic Research Centre (ORC) Everything you may need to know about commercial potato production to help you achieve a high quality product. Includes useful information to help you manage...Weeds, Pests & diseases, Roots & horticulture, People & skills -
The AgroDiversity Toolbox
resource The OSCAR project consortium Everything you need to know about the management of cover crops: Check out this free, interactive web-based tool.Conservation agriculture, Crop nutrition & fertility building, People & skills -
Heritage Seed Library Seed Saving Guidelines
resource Garden Organic Garden Organic’s useful guide to seed saving; the whys and hows, and taking you through different steps of seed saving for some well-known vegetable and...Roots & horticulture, Markets & food systems, People & skills -
Farmland bird conservation
resource Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU) - University of Oxford How to help provide the “big three” for farmland birds: safe nesting habitat, summer food and winter food.Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, Pollinators & ecological services, Natural resources & waste, People & skills -
Biodiversity in crops and grassland
resource Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU) - University of Oxford Practical information on encouraging biodiversity in productive fields.Other species, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, Natural resources & waste, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity -
Feeding dairy cows in winter
resource Soil Association Break free from costly organic concentrates: how organic home-grown feedstuffs can feed your dairy cows in winter and save you money.Animal health & welfare, Dairy cattle, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, Crop nutrition & fertility building, People & skills -
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 -
The value of non-traditional crops
resource Garden Organic Interested in increasing crop diversity & growing ‘non-traditional’ crops? Have a look at these useful resources from Garden Organic’s ‘Sowing New Seeds’ project.Roots & horticulture, Biodiversity, Nutrition & public health, Communities & education, Markets & food systems -
Pea-barley intercrops
resource INTERCROP project consortium Research showing that intercropping field peas and spring barley can encourage more efficient nitrogen use.People & skills, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Crop nutrition & fertility building