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:
- Crops, forage & horticulture (27) Apply Crops, forage & horticulture filter
- Farm management & economics (22) Apply Farm management & economics filter
- Weeds, pests and diseases (11) Apply Weeds, pests and diseases filter
- Environment & wildlife (9) Apply Environment & wildlife filter
- Livestock husbandry (4) Apply Livestock husbandry filter
- Agroecological approaches (2) Apply Agroecological approaches filter
Filter by format type:
Filter by key farming practices:
- Soil monitoring (23) Apply Soil monitoring filter
- Cover crops (12) Apply Cover crops filter
- Diverse leys (9) Apply Diverse leys filter
- Leys (8) Apply Leys filter
- Minimum Tillage (8) Apply Minimum Tillage filter
- No Till (8) Apply No Till filter
- Organic fertilisers (8) Apply Organic fertilisers filter
- Mulching (7) Apply Mulching filter
- Green manures (6) Apply Green manures filter
- Diversified rotation (5) Apply Diversified rotation filter
- Intercropping (5) Apply Intercropping filter
- Rotational grazing (5) Apply Rotational grazing filter
- Direct drilling (4) Apply Direct drilling filter
- Mob grazing (4) Apply Mob grazing filter
- Pasture fed livestock (4) Apply Pasture fed livestock filter
- Mixed farming (3) Apply Mixed farming filter
- Biopesticides (2) Apply Biopesticides filter
- Companion crops (2) Apply Companion crops filter
- Integrated Pest Management (2) Apply Integrated Pest Management filter
- Undersowing (2) Apply Undersowing filter
- Aerobic digestion (1) Apply Aerobic digestion filter
- Habitat creation (1) Apply Habitat creation filter
- Homegrown feed (1) Apply Homegrown feed filter
- Low input varieties (1) Apply Low input varieties filter
- Low input varieties (1) Apply Low input varieties filter
- Mechanical weeding (1) Apply Mechanical weeding filter
- Trap crops (1) Apply Trap crops filter
More filters
Filter by organisation:
- Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) - produced as part of the AHDB-BBRO Soil Biology and Soil Health Partnership (ahdb.org.uk/greatsoils) (3) Apply Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) - produced as part of the AHDB-BBRO Soil Biology and Soil Health Partnership (ahdb.org.uk/greatsoils) filter
- Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) (3) Apply Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) filter
- AHDB Horticulture (2) Apply AHDB Horticulture filter
- Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (2) Apply Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust filter
- Garden Organic (2) Apply Garden Organic filter
- Organic Growers Alliance (2) Apply Organic Growers Alliance filter
- Soilmentor app (2) Apply Soilmentor app filter
- Agricology / Oxford Real Farming Conference (1) Apply Agricology / Oxford Real Farming Conference filter
- Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) / EBLEX / DairyCo (1) Apply Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) / EBLEX / DairyCo filter
- AHDB (1) Apply AHDB filter
- Duchy College (1) Apply Duchy College filter
- FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (1) Apply FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture filter
- Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) (1) Apply Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) filter
- Innovative Farmers (1) Apply Innovative Farmers filter
- National Soil Resources Institute (1) Apply National Soil Resources Institute filter
- Norfolk Rivers Trust (1) Apply Norfolk Rivers Trust filter
- NRM Laboratories (1) Apply NRM Laboratories filter
- ORC / GWCT / LEAF / OF&G / Soil Association / SRUC / Agricology - as part of Defra Project OF03111 Organic Management Techniques (1) Apply ORC / GWCT / LEAF / OF&G / Soil Association / SRUC / Agricology - as part of Defra Project OF03111 Organic Management Techniques filter
- Organic Growers Alliance (OGA) (1) Apply Organic Growers Alliance (OGA) filter
- Organic Research Centre (1) Apply Organic Research Centre filter
- Organic Research Centre & the DIVERSify project consortium (1) Apply Organic Research Centre & the DIVERSify project consortium filter
- Organic Research Centre / Soil Association / Earthcare Technical (1) Apply Organic Research Centre / Soil Association / Earthcare Technical filter
- Oxford Real Farming Conference (1) Apply Oxford Real Farming Conference filter
- School of Agriculture/ Food and Rural Development at Newcastle University (1) Apply School of Agriculture/ Food and Rural Development at Newcastle University filter
- Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) (1) Apply Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) filter
- Soilmentor (featuring video by Catchment Sensitive Farming & Innovation for Agriculture) (1) Apply Soilmentor (featuring video by Catchment Sensitive Farming & Innovation for Agriculture) filter
- Soilmentor app consortium (1) Apply Soilmentor app consortium filter
- Soilmentor app consortium (featuring video by Catchment Sensitive Farming & Innovation for Agriculture) (1) Apply Soilmentor app consortium (featuring video by Catchment Sensitive Farming & Innovation for Agriculture) filter
- The Naked Scientists (University of Cambridge) (1) Apply The Naked Scientists (University of Cambridge) filter
- The National Sheep Association (1) Apply The National Sheep Association filter
Filter by evidence:
- (-) Remove Applied research filter Applied research
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41
-
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 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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 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 #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 -
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 -
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 -
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 #3: Monitor the impact of water run-off
resource Soilmentor app consortium (featuring video by Catchment Sensitive Farming & Innovation for Agriculture) How much topsoil and nutrients do you lose with rainwater run-off? This resource explains a test you can do to understand how much is running...Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Organic matter -
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 -
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 -
Soil Summary 2016-2017
resource NRM Laboratories A useful summary from NRM Laboratories on soil sampling and data collected on soil nutrients over the course of a year.Type, texture & structure, Crop nutrition & fertility building -
The Benefits of Sheep in Arable Rotations
resource The National Sheep Association How incorporating sheep within arable farming systems can rejuvenate soils, reduce problem weeds, improve biodiversity, & improve yields from following crops.Integrated farming, Type, texture & structure, Rotations, Organic matter, Weeds, Animal health & welfare, Beef cattle & sheep, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Biodiversity -
The contributions of organic additions on soil quality
resource Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust A useful report to help increase understanding of when and how to use organic matter to help improve soil quality on your farm.Type, texture & structure, Organic matter, Soil biology -
Economic and ecological benefits of reduced tillage in the UK
resource Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust A guide to potential benefits and implications of integrating reduced tillage into your farm management system.Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Organic matter -
Valuing Your Soils
resource Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) 'Valuing Your Soils' will help Scottish farmers, crofters and land managers protect and manage their most valuable resource.Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation -
Making the Most of Green Manures
resource Innovative Farmers Improve your understanding of how to use green manures and the many potential ways in which they can benefit your farm business with this audio...Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Organic matter, Soil biology, Weeds, Crop nutrition & fertility building -
The Basics of Soil Fertility
resource FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL booklet offering a view on soil fertility from different angles to stimulate new thinking about a sustainable relationship to the soil.Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Drainage, Rotations, Organic matter, Soil biology, People & skills -
Soils and biodiversity
resource Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Information on the importance of biodiversity of soil organisms, the services they provide and agricultural practices that promote them.Type, texture & structure, Organic matter, Soil biology, Biodiversity -
Manure use efficiency
resource Duchy College A SWARM Hub webpage to help you maximise on available nutrients in organic manures, make savings and reduce environmental losses.Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Organic matter, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, Crop nutrition & fertility building, Regulations, standards & policy -
TILMAN - the final report
resource School of Agriculture/ Food and Rural Development at Newcastle University The impacts of reduced tillage methods on crop yield, fertility building and weeds; some key messages from the TILMAN-ORG project.Type, texture & structure, Compaction & cultivation, Rotations, Organic matter, Soil biology, Weeds, Cereals, oil seeds & pulses, Grasslands & forage crops, Roots & horticulture, Crop nutrition & fertility building