“Rather than relying on a single intervention, the system stacks a series of complementary innovations including reduced tillage, organic matter inputs, cover and companion cropping, more targeted pesticide use, nutrient budgeting and biodiversity-supporting field features with the aim of maintaining productive farming while reducing reliance on external inputs and improving soil condition, biodiversity and wider environmental performance over the long term.”
Scientists analysed data from the Hutton’s long-running research at its Centre for Sustainable Cropping (CSC) at Balruddery Farm near Dundee for the study, published in Plant and Soil, which compared spring barley grown after field beans with barley grown after barley.
Dr Cathy Hawes, who leads research at the CSC, said, “The CSC was established to test what genuinely regenerative cropping can look like in practice.