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PACARes:
Providing Access, Collation and Analysis of Defra research in the
organic sector.
Under
the Defra-funded PACA Res project the Institute of Organic Training
and Advice is commissioning research reviews of Defra and other
organic research projects in order to draw together, analyse and
publish the results to improve access by advisers and farmers.
IOTA
is undertaking reviews on 21 practical, organic farming topics and
is in the process of publishing the reviews on the member's area
of this website as part of a two year programme ending in May 2008.
Publicly
available reviews:
Grass
clover ley species, variety selection and management, by David
Younie
Grass
clover leys form the basis of most organic farming systems yet the
selection of seed mixtures is often founded on tradition or cost.
Based on a review of recent and past research this review provides
a wealth of information on grass and legume species and varieties,
mixture selection, ley establishment and pasture management.
 To
download the Research Review, click here
(Pdf file)
Cereal
and population selection, by Hannah Jones
Breeding,
with a particular emphasis on cereals, over the last half century
has resulted in significant improvements in overall production.
Increases in yield have largely been achieved by an improvement
in the agronomic conditions, and a corresponding adaptation of varieties
to those conditions. This review describes variety characteristics
suitable for organic conditions, approaches to cereal breeding for
organic systems, and finally the scope for the future.
To
download the Research Review, click here
(Pdf file)
The
role and management of whole-crop forage for organic ruminants,
by Dan Powell
Whole-crop
forage plays an invaluable role in supporting the productivity and
health of ruminants. This comprehensive review of over 60 references
and research projects provides a thorough yet succinct analysis
of the key issues concerning cereal and pulse species and variety
selection, mixtures, management, quality and use in organic farming
systems.
To
download the Research Review, click here
(Pdf file)
Nitrogen
Supply and Management in Organic Farming,
by Stephen Briggs
Optimising
the management and supply of nitrogen to crops remains one of the
greatest challenges for organic producers. This Research Review
covers a large number of research projects and summarises key aspects
of nitrogen accumulation, management and utilisation through the
use of legumes, catch crops, manures, cultivations and soil management.
To
download the Research Review, click here
(Pdf file)
Organic
poultry nutrition and rations, by Gerard Dinnage
The
scope of the review is to consider recent sources of information
relating to the feeding of organic laying hens, broilers and turkeys.
In particular it reviews all the research commissioned by Defra
together with other UK and European work and collates the results
of that work in the light of commercial experience, providing advisers
with a summary of the key recommendations.
To
download the Research Review, click here
(Pdf file)
Monitoring
and Management of Energy and Emissions in agriculture,
by Tony Little
The
primary purpose of this review is to collate the results of research
into energy use and emissions in organic farming, and to provide
advisers with an analysis of the results, access to the data used
and a review of the benchmarking methodologies available. The review
will inform those working in the development of benchmarking tools
and advising farmers on practices to improve their performance.
To
download the Research Review, click here
(Pdf file)
Management
of trace elements and vitamins in organic ruminant livestock nutrition
in the context of the whole farm system,
by Dr Mike Tame
This
review collates and summarises the organic research into trace elements
and vitamins in organic ruminant livestock. It covers the role of
trace elements and vitamins in animal health, their requirements
(where known), and the extent and effect on health of known trace
element and vitamin deficiencies. It also considers strategies for
improving the level of trace elements available to ruminant livestock
in forages as well as the role of supplements in various forms in
treating established deficiencies.
To
download the Research Review, click here
(Pdf file)
The
role and management of herbal pastures for animal health, productivity
and product quality,
by Geoffrey Burke
This
review seeks to address the role and management of herbal pastures
for animal health, productivity and product quality. It aims to
do this by way of reviewing available Defra funded and other research
and identifying key and relevant aspects. In particular the target
issues are: Impact on animal health and growth, mixtures/varieties,
meat quality, production/yield and climate change issues.
To
download the Research Review, click here
(Pdf file)
Management
& sustainability of stockless organic arable and horticultural systems,
by Keith Preston
Traditional
organic systems of mixed farming with alternate husbandry rely on
fertility building leys and livestock manures to provide break crops
and fertility building. A stockless organic system allows conversion
to organic farming without the requirement to introduce livestock
and their associated infrastructure costs. Totally stockless systems
do not import livestock manures but some utilize green wastes. The
challenges of stockless organic systems are: conversion planning,
rotation design, maintaining soil nutrient status, weed control,
pest control, economic return. The aim of this review is to address
these issues and the main problems faced by producers.
To
download the Research Review, click here
(Pdf file)
Non-inversion
organic arable cropping, by Andrew Trump
The
phrase "Non-Inversion Tillage" (NI) as used in this review refers
to any system which does not seek to substantially invert the soil
profile. For the purposes of this review, literature that refers
to minimum, conservation and reduced tillage and also direct drilling
techniques have been consulted.The objective of this review is to
ascertain the likely benefits and possible challenges inherent in
moving away from inversion tillage.
To
download the Research Review, click here
(Pdf file)
Combinable
protein crop production,
by Isobel Wright
This
research topic review aims to summarise research knowledge and observational
experience of combinable protein crop production in organic farming
systems for the UK. European research on peas, faba beans and lupins
is included; considering their role in the rotation, nitrogen fixation,
varieties, establishment, weed control, yields, problems experienced
and intercropping with cereals.
To
download the Research Review, click here
(Pdf file)
Compost:
the effect on nutrients, soil health and crop quantity and plant
health, by Roger Hitchings
Compost
is considered by many to be the holy grail of organic farming and
growing. This review looks at the research and explores how compost
varies according to the ingredients and the way it is made. It studies
the evidence for compost improving plant health, quality and promoting
disease resistance and summarises the situations in which compost
is most useful.
To
download the Research Review, click here
(Pdf file)
Organic
Dairy Cow Nutrition, by Dr Mike
Tame
Pulls
together the results of over 40 research projects and brings us
up to date with the latest in thinking on dairy cow nutrition, incorporates
the findings of a wide range of organic trials and draws some clear
recommendations on appropriate strategies for forage type and management,
supplementary feeding, ration formulation and farming systems. It
raises important issues around sustainability versus optimum production
and highlights future research priorities.
To
download the Research Review, click here
(Pdf file)
To download the Appendices,
click here
(Pdf file)
Reviews
currently underway and not yet published:
Advisory
tools for organic farming
Nutrient
budgetting
Organic
plant raising
Wildlife and
Biodiversity: integration and management of farming and wildlife
for their mutual benefit
Strategies
for enhancing organic food quality
[updated
May 2008]
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