Options for building soil fertility

Abacus Organic’s Stephen Briggs said most growers would be familiar with the practice of using white and red clover to build fertility. There was, however, a range of leguminous crops that could be used, all with different nitrogen fixing potential – between 100kg N/ha to 500kg N/ha – according to how well the crop was growing.

There were often questions about how such crops should be managed and Defra-funded research showed cutting did not have too much of a detrimental effect on the N supplied, said Mr Briggs.

Other methods

Other methods of getting nitrogen into the system include bi-cropping or growing two types of crop together, such as peas and oats or wheat and beans or lupins. Both crops can be taken as a whole crop for crimping or combined.

Undersowing is also an option, as is potentially leaving clover in place permanently and drilling wheat into the clover, although more work needs to be done on the latter option.

“The aim is a low cost of production, soil protection and a cash crop every year,” said Mr Briggs.

He also urged farmers attending the event to consider their “below ground stocking rates”, in terms of the effect of crop management practices on beneficial soil-organisms.

“As organic farmers we need to get better at cultivations management,’ he said.

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