Cymraeg These resources look at how good soil health is central to on farm resilience.
Measuring and managing soil organic matter – pdf
Organic matter adds to soil fertility and overall soil health by enhancing the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil. This GREATSoils factsheet explores different ways in which organic matter can be added to soil and how you can measure how much organic matter is in your soil. Read it here.
Soil health and farm resilience – blog
This blog includes a lot of helpful resources, looking at some of the tools available to help monitor soil in your fields, different ways farmers are working to improve soil health and the many potential benefits that can be attained from prioritising the health of your farm’s soil. Access it here.
Above and below the ground: building resilient, productive and profitable soils – pdf
Arable farmer David Walston wanted to explore why some soils are more productive than others and learn about the best ways to improve them. You can read about the results in his Nuffield report; which looks at what constitutes a healthy soil, how we can improve soils, the “fertiliser addiction” and legislation. It covers rotations, cover crops, companion crops, using compost and grazing livestock on your farm. Read it here.
The contributions of organic additions on soil quality – pdf
This report produced by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), with support from the Frank Parkinson Agricultural Trust, looks at the role of organic matter within soils and reviews the effects organic additions (produced on and off farm) have on soil quality. It also provides guidance on carbon: nitrogen ratios and looks at other factors that affect soil organic matter. Read it here.
No-till for growers: realising the promise of soil health in organic horticulture, part 1 – pdf
This is 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 to soil health. It is specifically aimed at growers who want to make the transition to a no-till system. It focuses on smaller scale growing operations, but the principles can be applied equally to larger mechanised operations. Access it here.
Economic and ecological benefits of reduced tillage in the UK – pdf
This report by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), with support from the Frank Parkinson Agricultural Trust, compares reduced tillage against a conventional plough-based system, highlighting financial and ecological benefits. It explores opportunities to maximise yields and gross margins whilst making savings on labour, machinery and fuel costs. While increased management is often required, it outlines the benefits that can assist in a sustainable arable system, and that underpin an Integrated Farm Management (IFM) approach. Read it here.
Mulch systems and rotational no-till in vegetable farming – pdf
Vegetable farming can be damaging to soil health and soil structure. Reducing tillage in horticultural and particularly organic systems is challenging and no-till can be the holy grail! This article explains the systems created using cover crops, grass and silage as mulch, to maintain cover and plant roots in the soil as much as possible for soil health, breaking it down into 6 steps. Access it here.
Living mulches for sustainable cropping systems: A step towards ‘Regenerative Organic’ Agriculture in the UK? – blog
This blog post explores what it means to sustainably farm the land by looking at the fine balance of managing and manipulating the dynamics of a cash and cover crop to the advantage of the cash crop whilst maximising the services from the cover crop. Read it here.
