Skip to main content

You are here

Resources

Browse our library of the best technical guides, research papers and videos on sustainable agriculture below. You can also filter by topic.

Filter by farming theme:

Filter by format type:

Filter by key farming practices:

More filters

Filter by organisation:

Filter by evidence:

Displaying 181 - 210 of 253

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
Manifold green manures Part 2: Alsike and crimson clovers

resource Organic Research Centre Details on alsike and crimson clover that will help assess suitability for inclusion in fertility-building mixes, as defined in Legume LINK.

Rotations, Grasslands & forage crops, Crop nutrition & fertility building
Manifold green manures Part 3: Black medic and lucerne

resource Organic Research Centre Two lesser-used legume species with properties that you can make use of in fodder, green manure or hay crops, as highlighted in Legume LINK.

Organic matter, Crop nutrition & fertility building
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
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
Lucerne - an alternative forage crop

resource Farming Connect A summary of the benefits and limitations of lucerne as a forage crop and a fertility building legume including guidance on establishment, crop growth, cutting...

Animal health & welfare, Grasslands & forage crops
Management for bumblebees

resource Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) Bumblebees in the UK; their importance, their requirements, and how farmers can help bring back the bumblebee.

Agroforestry, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, Pollinators & ecological services
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
Sward enhancement: choice of methods

resource Natural England Practical tips on ways of increasing the diversity of wild flowers in your swards, with guidance on selecting the right method.

Grasslands & forage crops, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity
Arable reversion to species-rich grassland: Site selection and choice of methods

resource Natural England One of a series of Technical Information Notes providing information on arable reversion

Grasslands & forage crops, Pollinators & ecological services
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
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 bring

Type, texture & structure, Rotations, Organic matter, Roots & horticulture, Crop nutrition & fertility building, People & skills
Perennial flower strips for pest control in fruit orchards

resource Organic Growers Alliance (OGA) This article, adapted from a technical guide published as part of the EcoOrchard project, looks at advantages of sown flower strips, management considerations, costs, and...

Weeds, Pests & diseases, Roots & horticulture, Pollinators & ecological services, Biodiversity
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

Pages