Know How / Land preparation Case studiesSee all NUTRITION AND FERTILISERHow fulvic acid can cut glyphosate rates and help foliar NFulvic and humic acid could be beneficial additions to spray tank mixes, enabling growers to increase efficacy and successfully cut back glyphosate and fertiliser rates by one-third. Both fulvic and… SOILSNotts Monitor Farm sees benefits of reduced cultivationsReduced labour and machinery costs and more resilient soils are some of the benefits being seen since reducing cultivations at Manor Farm, near Bingham in Nottinghamshire. The Fisher family have… CROP MANAGEMENTHow two farmers are cutting back on fungicides this springTwo arable farmers are planning to dramatically cut back their fungicide spend this spring, helping to overcome rising chemical costs. Wiltshire grower George Hosier aims to spend the absolute minimum,… COVER CROPSInternational expert's tips on ramping up soil carbon levelsSoil carbon levels can be moved in the right direction by applying a set of five soil health principles and recognising that every green plant is a carbon inlet, according… ESTABLISHMENTDrill change improves cereal crop resilienceSpring barley was the last crop to be fully drilled with the 3m Mzuri Pro-till drill and despite the tricky spring, it yielded nearly 8t/ha last summer. Neil White believes… COVER CROPSNuffield Scholar assesses the benefits of cover croppingCover crops are the keystone to the biological, chemical and physical function of the soil. This is according to Northamptonshire arable farmer and 2022 Nuffield Scholar Toby Simpson, whose study… Practical adviceSee all CROP MANAGEMENTSFI 2023: The support options for arable growersArable growers are being encouraged to enter the new 2023 Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) for England as it is simpler and more flexible than previous financial support packages. The new… DRILLINGOats come out top in heavy land direct drilling trialOats gave a higher yield and profit margin when direct drilled compared with minimum tillage in an eight-year trial, due largely to the cereal crop showing a very vigorous growth… POTATOESShallower potato cultivation depths recommended in wet seasonPotato growers are advised to reduce cultivation depths this season to improve soil condition and work rates, as persistent rain stops play. With the optimum planting window narrowing, independent potato… COVER CROPSA guide to catch cropping before autumn cerealsWhile many farmers are growing cover crops over winter before spring crops, there is also the possibility of establishing a catch crop between harvest and an autumn-drilled crop. The key… SOILS5 steps to introducing a no-till approach on arable farmsFarmer-led organisation Base-UK will be recommending a five-stage approach to adopting regenerative farming at Cereals, for growers looking to start their no-till journey. The five steps are: 1. Have a… SOILSHow to build a bioreactor to produce your own on-farm biologyBuilding biology on your farm doesn’t need to cost the earth, although it does require a level of patience. There is more than one way to increase microbial activity in… InsightsSee all PULSESSoil conditioner trial lifts vining pea yields by nearly 40%Applying a phosphate enhancer to vining pea seed-beds led to an average yield increase of nearly 40% in Agrii trials carried out in conjunction with a Yorkshire vining pea co-op.… SOILSSussex soil project aims to increase organic matterThe impact of soil type and land use on the ability of farms to improve soil organic matter levels is being investigated in a five-year project funded by Southern Water,… SOILSHow FYM can increase soil oxygen and nitrogen use efficiencyIncreasing soil organic matter levels through applications of farmyard manure can significantly increase soil oxygen levels, which in turn improves nitrogen use efficiency. The flow of organic carbon through soil… SOILSStudies show earthworms can increase crop yields by 25%Earthworms are fundamental to the delivery of a range of soil ecosystem services such as nutrient cycling and water management, which in turn affects crop development and yield. In fact,… ARABLEWhy cover crops and reduced tillage is key to soil healthCover crops can help reduce deep cultivations to improve soil structure and cut expensive machinery costs while tapping into new environmental payments. These overwintered multispecies cover crops encourage earthworm numbers… SOILSZero-till v plough: Differences in soil structure and carbonA study across the East Midlands comparing the effects of zero-till and ploughing on soil structure has revealed how porosity and carbon accumulation evolves differently according to cultivation management. The… SOILSCould compaction-busting plants become a reality?Soil compaction is a major challenge for many arable farmers, exacerbated by the intensification of operations and trafficking of large machinery – not to mention recent waterlogging leaving soils vulnerable… COVER CROPSWhat French cover crop trials are helping growers understandResearch into the best varieties of cover crop species, what seed rates to use and different establishment techniques are part of a 300 plot cover crop trials platform being run… SOILSWhat is the true value of on-farm soil organic matter?Increasing soil carbon stocks and organic matter seems to be an industry-wide goal for many farmers, but what value does it really have? Are growers aiming to increase yield and… COVER CROPSHow sound and smell could help improve agronomy practicesDo we make enough use of all our senses to help improve agronomy? Visual observation remains key and auto-technology identifying weeds, pests and diseases is becoming an increasingly achievable goal.… ARABLEHerbal leys help halve nitrogen fertiliser use for wheatWinter wheat growers could halve their nitrogen fertiliser rates after using a three-year herbal ley and not see a fall in yield compared with an all-arable rotation. Introducing a multi-species… SOILSCan climate change champion biochar match its potential?Soil improver, waste recycler and atmospheric carbon capturer – there’s a lot of excitement about the potential benefits of biochar. Equally, there are a lot of unknowns about whether that… Online resources from AHDB Field drainage guide Download No-till fact sheet Download Soil assessment fact sheet Download Slug control fact sheet Download
