Initial Sustainable Farming Incentives promising as they focus on protecting our soils.
Members of the Sustainable Soils group in The Conversation UK.
Author: Cristina McBride-Serrano
Cover crops under maize to manage excess water and erosion in NW England
In the UK, an increasing maize cropping area and more frequent, more intense rainfall events are accelerating soil erosion and compaction, potentially exacerbating the impacts of flooding and diffuse pollution. Researchers at Lancaster University are assessing whether under-sowing cover crop mixtures in maize affect soil water retention and movement, and soil strength as assessed by penetrometer profiles.
Setting up a field experiment to assess the erosion control potential of cover crops
Author: Helena Ripley
My PhD research is focused on the use of cover crops to control soil erosion in hillside orchards in Spain. I am currently working on my third data chapter: a mesocosm trial to assess the effectiveness of different species and mixes to reduce soil loss under overland water flow. This blog will give an overview of the process of starting an experiment.
UK land now stores 7% more carbon than 300 years ago – what that means for the environment
New research from our group has taken a look at how land use change, agriculture and centuries of pollution have affected stores of carbon in plants and soils across the UK.
Read more in this news article in The Conversation.
Taking a long look at the flow of nutrients from soils to water in the UK
Our recent research has explored how long-term changes in land use, agriculture, atmospheric pollution and human waste generation and management has changed the flows of nutrients through our waterways.