The challenge of sustainable food production from a grower’s perspective
Presentation at 8th Organic producers’ Conference: Intensive sustainability or sustainable intensification – which way forward for organic farming?
Technical leaflet 5: Compost – the effect on nutrients, soil health and crop quantity and quality
Provides a short practical guide to different composting techniques and the role and use of compost and fresh manure for different purposes and conditions.
Technical leaflet 7: Composting with rock phosphate
Published as part of the Defra funded P-Link project led by the Scottish Agricultural College.
Compost: the effect of nutrients, soil health and crop quantity and quality
Compost is considered by many to be the holy grail of organic farming and growing. This review looks at the research and explores how compost varies according to the ingredients and the way it is made. It studies the evidence for compost improving plant health, quality and promoting disease resistance and summarises the situations in which compost is most useful.
The role, analysis and management of soil life and organic matter in soil health, crop nutrition and productivity
The concept of a “living soil” in which biological activity makes nutrients available to plants and fixes nitrogen is central to organic farming. This Review considers the research into the complex role of soil life and looks at the analytical techniques and management strategies which are available to us in the organic management of soils.
Laboratory mineral soil analysis and soil mineral management in organic farming
The supply of nutrients to plants is dependent on the complex relationship between soil mineral levels, soil structure and type and biological activity. This review looks at the soil analysis techniques available to organic farmers and the supply and availability of nutrients to plants through the use of mineral additions and soil management.