Written by Harry Barnett I never dreamt that a soil disturbing potato farmer like myself would be writing an article for the Direct Driller magazine but I feel privileged to share some of my findings and views. I am based on the Holkham Estate in North Norfolk, where I run a potato growing enterprise growing …
Dr David Cutress: IBERS, Aberystwyth University. • Symbiotic fungi mycorrhiza have important interactions with many plant species• Mycorrhiza, in optimal conditions, can improve plant growth with fewer inputs, improve soils and protect from weeds, insects, contamination and climate changes• Mycorrhiza focused systems as such could act as a promising future tool to combat the increasing …
Farming’s fungi focus: Considering belowground to benefit aboveground Read More »
The impact of rising CO2 levels on the nutritional quality of crops Written by Louis Gray, UWE & Dr William Stiles, Aberystwyth University. Take home messages:• Increasing levels of CO2 in the atmosphere are expected to change the nutritional composition of plants, and plant growth patterns• Certain existing crops may start to perform less well, …
Rachel Thorman and Anne Bhogal, ADAS Cover crops are grown primarily to ‘protect or improve’ soils between periods of regular crop production. Whilst the benefits of cover crops for erosion control and reduced overwinter nitrate leaching losses are well established, the legacy effect for subsequent crops in the rotation is unclear. Of particular relevance is …
Written by Rothamsted Root structures and genetics give the weed an advantage over wheat and explain field patches. Black-grass thrives on heavy land, particularly where drainage is poor. Now a new study has shown that this problematic weed uses specific adaptations to flourish even when soil is totally saturated for up to three weeks. The data …
Getting to the Roots of Black-Grass’s Waterlogging Tolerance Read More »
Cover crops can suppress weeds and volunteers by competing for light, water and nutrients. Some species also release chemicals that inhibit weed development.
A change in English law now allows certain gene-edited crops to be grown on commercial farms. Tech Farmer visits the scientists working with a new farmer-led platform that will make the first three introductions. Rarely would you find so many misfits in the same place. Looking closely you can see spikelets within a wheat ear …
Three start-ups are looking at new ways to deliver effective crop protection solutions that could overcome current resistance issues. Tech Farmer gets the insight. Tiny carbon particles, not dissimilar to burnt sugar, could hold the key to a completely new method of delivering crop protection. First discovered in 2004, carbon dots are extremely small spherical …
The discovery of a grass that makes its own antibiotics may have wide-reaching implications for restoring soil health and improving water quality. Tech Farmer considers the implications of the trait for UK wheats. There’s a type of grass that thrives in the tropical pastures of Colombia that confounded scientists for decades. Brachiaria has been dubbed …
AHDB Technical Content Manager Jason Pole explains the role of the fungicide performance information in choosing the best technology to protect crops. For 30 years, there’s been a trusted team that’s tested the efficacy of chemistry used to battle major crop diseases in the fungicide performance project. The wheat trial series is the oldest, going …
Levy-funded trials help fine-tune fungicide choice Read More »
