Four projects helping to address knowledge gaps associated with cover crops have been set up by the new farmer-led AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds research and knowledge exchange committee
In total, £60,000 has been committed to provide information about growing cover crops, including establishment and termination methods, nutrient management implications and proving long-term benefits.
The Cover Crop Champion project involves eight farmers growing a cover crop during the 2024/25 season, with various measurements and analyses undertaken to monitor progress and provide evidence and insight for future activities.
Each Champion has been sharing experiences via social media, YouTube and updates on the AHDB website.
Then, project two is a desk study to assess a decision support tool which estimates the quantity of nitrogen and nutrient release patterns from a wide range of cover crop species. “One of the biggest knowledge gaps for cover crops is around legacy effects of nutrient release,” says Joanna McBurnie, AHDB environmental scientist.
Development of reliable information is complicated by the sheer range of cover crop species and mixes, agroclimatic conditions and management practices, but the project is aiming to build on decision support tools developed in other countries.
Another area where guidance is contested is around termination. As such, a third project led by researchers at Harper Adams University will review and appraise different approaches and impacts on establishment of following crops, weed population dynamics and biomass breakdown, with the aim of providing best practice management.
Finally, AHDB is also working in partnership with the creators of the Cover Crops Guide to keep it up-to-date and add practical case studies via the Cover Crop Champions.
This article was taken from the latest issue of CPM. For more articles like this, subscribe here.
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