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Technical leaflet 6: A guide to nutrient budgeting on organic farms
Technical Guides
Provides an introduction to Nutrient Budgeting to aid nutrient and crop planning on organic farms. It includes information on the principles of nutrient management and details of nutrient contents of crops, stock, manure and fertilizer for use in calculating nutrient budgets.
GM Foods: The Answer? Or Just Empty Promises?
Briefings
In the year 2050 the world population is expected to reach 9 billion and we would not have enough food anymore if the world food production still goes the way it is going now. GM advocates claim to have the solution for this, manipulate the genes of a crop, increase it’s productivity, and the problem is solved, the world is at peace, case closed. GM also promised other benefits...
Technical leaflet 7: Composting with rock phosphate
Technical Guides
Published as part of the Defra funded P-Link project led by the Scottish Agricultural College.
Technical leaflet 5: Compost – the effect on nutrients, soil health and crop quantity and quality
Technical Guides
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 4: Soil analysis and management
Technical Guides
Provides a summary of how soil analysis can be useful in the management of individual nutrients, provides information on sampling and different analytical techniques and considers the role of soil analysis in the context of other soil monitoring tools.
Technical leaflet 3: Organic beef and sheep nutrition
Technical Guides
Reviews relevant research on beef and sheep nutrition, takes account of the experience of producers and provides practical recommendations on making better use of forage and guidance on ration formulation.
Technical leaflet 2: Financial performance, benchmarking and management of livestock and mixed organic farming
Technical Guides
Provides an overview of the financial performance of a range of organic farm types and an analysis of the key factors that affect profitability, including variable costs, particularly focusing on feed and forage, and fixed costs. It provides an introduction to benchmarking and improvement of farm profitability by comparing performance with other similar farms and focusing on underperforming areas to make improvements.
Technical leaflet 1: Organic dairy cow nutrition
Technical Guides
Summarises the key recommendations arising from research, in particular focusing on the absolute priority of improving production from forage and the importance of rumen and cow health as well as addressing issues of forage quality, the effect of season on forage protein, the role of mixed forages and self sufficient dairy systems.
Non-inversion organic arable cropping
Research Summaries
"Non-Inversion Tillage" (NI) involves any cultivation system which does not seek to substantially invert the soil profile. For the purposes of this review, literature that refers to minimum, conservation and reduced tillage and also direct drilling techniques have been consulted. The review identifies the likely benefits and possible challenges inherent in moving away from inversion tillage and points towards some very successful commercial experience of NI.
Nitrogen supply and management in organic farming
Research Summaries
Optimising the management and supply of nitrogen to crops remains one of the greatest challenges for organic producers. This Research Review covers a large number of research projects and summarises key aspects of nitrogen accumulation, management and utilisation through the use of legumes, catch crops, manures, cultivations and soil management.
Laboratory mineral soil analysis and soil mineral management in organic farming
Research Summaries
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.
The role, analysis and management of soil life and organic matter in soil health, crop nutrition and productivity
Research Summaries
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.