| Arable
Farming ‘cookbook’ reveals the ground breaking
benefits of cover cropping
A ground-breaking study has revealed that cover cropping can increase crop yields, boost soil health and bring about a
range of environmental benefits.
n the study of 13
Kellogg’s farmers
by the National
Institute of
Agricultural Botany
(NIAB), farmers
who used cover crops saw yield
responses up by 10 per cent and a
50 per cent reduction in nitrogen
leeching.
In more than 90 per cent of
farms the number of worms
increased which increased which
are essential for healthy,
functioning soils.
Interestingly more than three
quarters of Kellogg's Origins
farmers farms that used cover
crops reached their worm target –
compared to half for those that
didn’t.
Cover cropping is the plants
I
covering the soil on farmland
between the harvest and sowing
the next set of crops – it helps to
prevent soil erosion, improve soil
structure, increase organic matter
and suppress weeds and pests.
The results of the study have
been condensed into a ‘Cover
Crop Cook Book’, which gives
guidance on agronomy to farmers
and offers a range of practical
approaches to cover cropping.
The book has been shared with
3,000 farmers and experts
throughout the UK in the hope
they’ll take up cover cropping and
share their knowledge to develop
best practice.
Ann Noble, Kellogg’s
sustainability manager, said: “This
study arose from engagement with
our Kellogg’s Origins farmers. At
12 | Farming Monthly | October 2016
Kellogg’s, we want to ensure the
sustainability of our farmers’ crops
with better quality grains and
healthy soils.
“One of the key areas we’re
looking at is the use of cover
crops, which is not only a great
way of improving soil structure and
supporting biodiversity but also –
according to this ground breaking
study – yield a business benefit
too.
“When the research for the
report began, we were aware of
the potential benefits of cover
cropping, but there wasn’t a great
deal of fieldwork – until now.”
Ron Stobart, NIAB’s head of
Farming Systems Research, said:
“If you travelled 100 years back in
time, most farmers would have
known about cover cropping, but
for so long now the answer has
come in a bag, with artificial
fertilisers.
“Now resources are scarcer,
and companies like Kellogg’s are
leading the way in integrating the
best sustainable practices with
modern commercial production.
“There’s a great deal of interest
among the farming community in
managing soil resources, and with
this study we’ve brought some
science on what was a bit of a
grey area to get some answers on
the benefits of cover cropping.
“It’s given Kellogg’s growers
confidence, achieved great buy-in,
and we’re happy to share that
knowledge in the Cover Crop
Cook Book.”
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