A series of long-term studies seeking to develop bio-sustainable cropping systems for conventional arable cropping.
The New Farming Systems programme is funded by The Morley Agricultural Foundation (TMAF) and The JC Mann Trust and is being carried at Morley, in Norfolk, on a sandy clay loam soil.
Research within the NFS programme is seeking to maintain or increase system output while at the same time seeking to improve efficiency, sustainability and resilience within conventional arable cropping systems. Experiments are ostensibly examining three inter-related themes: fertility building, approaches to tillage and the use of soil amendments.
The experiments within the NFS programme are fully replicated, large plot studies that use farm scale equipment and techniques and include:
- MORE: the use of soil amendments - manure and organic replacement experiment
- Bio-sustainable systems for conventional arable cropping
- Evaluating cultivation approaches
- Fertility building and cover crops
- The use of soil amendments - green waste compost