| Arable
First year of co-composting FYM finds leaf phosphate concentration up to 20 % higher
An Innovative Farmers field lab has found higher phosphate concentration in plants from wheat and rye grass crops that were treated with cocomposted rock phosphate and farmyard manure , compared to crops where they were applied separately .
T he Soil and Root Innovators , a group of farmers in the South West , have been exploring how co-composting GAFSA ( reactive rock phosphate ) with FYM may improve soil biology , yield and phosphate availability for cereal crops since autumn 2016 , with these first annual results encouraging them to continue their research into 2018 and 2019 harvests .
From samples of rye grass , leaf phosphate concentration treated with co-composted rock phosphate and FYM was found to be around 20 % higher ( mg P g-1 Dry weight ) than plots treated separately . The effect was most observed where co-composting process had been at least four months . Timing of GAFSA application may also have an effect . There were also positive indications of greater biomass and flag leaf P concentrations in wheat plots on two of the three trial sites ( where they had cocomposted longer ): although the results were not statistically significant , the group think it is worth repeating the experiment . They hope to expand the number of sites and see if this effect can be observed again .
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The study is a great example of farmers leading the way in research and development . It is being funded by its members , and coordinated by one of the participants , Adrian Hares .
Adrian farms 130 acres of mixed beef and combinable cereals in Wiltshire , and as an independent soils adviser was keen to understand the potential effects on soil health . He said : “ We ’ re really pleased with the results and we ’ re confident that we can repeat and improve in the next year of research . One of the best things about doing research in this way – when it ’ s practical , in-field and replicated across several farms – is that we have a genuine representation of the influence cocomposting has , both on our own land and on a wider scale . Doing this kind of research individually gives you a single outcome , but working together we have multiple representations on different soil types and crop varieties , which means the results can be useful to a wider network of people .”
The group are collaborating with Dr John Hammond from the University of Reading , who said : “ The results suggest that co-composting can have an influence on phosphate availability to the crop , especially on these alkaline soils . Co-composting for a minimum of four months and applying ‘ little and often ’ appears to have the best results , so we can use this to inform our trials going forward . We ’ re also hoping to use larger trial plots to get an even more conclusive set of results next time around . This has been an interesting and valuable process so far , so I ’ m very pleased we are able to carry on with these trials and refine our research .”
You can follow the trial progress at www . innovativefarmers . org
Adrian Hares will be speaking at the Innovative Farmers Network Day on Wednesday 9 May 2018 . Open to members and non-members , this Innovative Farmers event will discuss past , present and future field labs and look at what the future of farmer-led research could look like . What are the biggest challenges facing farming , and how can ground-level research and development help tackle them ? The event will take place at Sheepdrove Farm , Berkshire . Find out more , see the full event schedule , and book your place at www . innovativefarmers . org / events
March 2018 | Farming Monthly | 17