Impacts of organic silvoarable systems on pest and disease distribution – Sheepdrove Organic Farm, Berkshire
MSc research project investigating the distribution of pests and diseases, and microclimatic differences, within a silvoarable system and arable control system.
A review of temperate agroforestry research literature
A comprehensive review of research activities in temperate agroforestry systems was carried out to provide a basis for identifying the potential of agroforestry as a land use system that balances productivity with environmental protection.
Potato virus Y: epidemiology, control and virus-host interactions
The project conducts a monitoring programme for Potato virus Y and its vectors in Northern Finland in order to design viable virus control options for seed potato production.
Using legume-based mixtures to enhance the nitrogen use efficiency and economic viability of cropping systems.
The three year collaborative project aims to improve soil fertility building in leys by developing targeted species mixtures of green manures, in particular nitrogen-fixing legumes.
Economics Analysis of Certification Systems in Organic Food and Farming
The main project objective is to generate research based knowledge on how to improve the organic food certification system in terms of efficiency, transparency and cost effectiveness.
New approaches to weed control in oilseed rape
The project tests weed control within the inter-row spacing of oilseed rape using various techniques. This includes positioning systems (e.g. vision-guided) and weed control methods (e.g. chemical and mechanical).
Development of methodology for assessing the environmental, economic and social characteristics of (organic and non-organic) farming systems
A range of UK farming systems will be described. A methodology will be developed, to describe their economic, environmental and social characteristics, from a life-cycle approach to capture inputs, products, outputs and impacts of the systems.
Harnessing new technologies for sustainable oat production and utilization
This project integrates various breeding and selection methods with high throughput analysis of grain composition to develop oats varieties for human consumption, livestock production and industrial uses.
The biodiversity impacts of establishing a silvoarable agroforestry system – Whitehall Farm, Cambs
This ongoing project will monitor the effect on biodiversity of establishing a silvoarable system with apple trees on previously intensive conventionally farmed land in Cambridgeshire.
Tree-crop interactions in silvoarable agroforestry
In 2009 we carried out a study to investigate the interactions between tree and crop components in the mixed hardwood and fruit tree silvoarable system at Wakelyns, in Suffolk, England to identify local variations in cereal yields.
Adaptive winter wheat populations: development, genetic characterisation and application
We study the yield, quality, and stability of wheat Composite Cross Populations (CCPs) under high and low input over a range of environments through phenotypic and genotypic analyses and develop the processing capabilities of CCPs for various end users.
Silvo-Poultry: An Agroforestry System for Organic Chicken Production at Sheepdrove Organic Farm
In collaboration with Sheepdrove Organic Farm in Berkshire we designed a novel silvopoultry system which is integrated into the farm’s organic rotation.