Crop Production and Environmental Management Systems
This is a selection of current crop production and environmental management projects:
Impact of Agricultural Systems on Farmland Birds: Changes in cropping practices together with the intensification of agricultural systems has reduced populations of many farmland birds. Studies investigating the breeding success and foraging behaviour of the Lapwing, Skylark and Song Thrush have been carried to determine the factors influencing their survival. (Contact Dr Keith Chaney)
Integrated management of potato cyst nematodes: These microscopic worms are present in approximately two-thirds of potato growing land in
England and Wales where they can cause complete crop loss; within the
EU they cause in excess of £200M damage each year to agriculture.
Researchers at HAUC have established the distribution of PCN in the UK
and developed novel methods for diagnosis and control as part of a
sustainable, integrated pest management approach. New management
guidelines have been developed for both growers and the potato
industry. (Contact Dr Pat Haydock)
Predicting Bread Wheat Quality from the Weather: The climatic phenomenon known as the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) strongly influences wheat quality and the price growers achieve for their grain. This discovery may allow the possibility of predicting the quality and value of bread wheat in the spring, in time to adjust crop inputs according to market needs. (Contact Dr Peter Kettlewell)
Effects of Conservation Tillage on Soil Biodiversity: Farmers are now re-appraising their seedbed cultivation systems to reduce the costs of crop production. The effects of conventional versus minimum cultivation techniques on the abundance of soil earthworms, invertebrates and seeds is being investigated in an EU-LIFE funded project in Northern Europe. For more detailed information please download the Case Study below or contact Dr Keith Chaney.
Developing better quality varieties of wheat: This £2.2 million Sustainable Arable LINK scheme aims to understand the science behind the science of excessive amylase. An excess of amylase can interfere with bread production. Harper Adams is developing a screening method to detect varieties of wheat susceptible to pre-maturity amylase, one of the important causes of excessive amylase. For more detailed information please download the Case Study below or contact Dr Peter Kettlewell.
Grass growth and the climate: Harper Adams has been conducting climate research on behald of a number of agencies over a number of years. Following collaboration with Rothemsted Research using the Park Grass Experiment, this work is being extended to other parts of the UK through collaboration with NIAB and IGer, funded by the John Oldacre Foundation. Future work will explore the possibility that climate effects on grass can, in turn, influence grazing animals. For more detailed information please download the Case Study below or contact Dr Peter Kettlewell.
Quantifying the lodging resistance of wheat: Lodging can cost the industry as much as £60 million per year. One of the reasons why lodging has remained a problem to the industry is that resistance is difficult to select due to the unpredictability of lodging. Work carried out over the last nine years at Harper Adams, in conjunction with Syngenta, has developed a method of quantifying the main characteristics of lodging, thereby assisting with the management and agronomy of different wheat varieties. For more detailed information please download the Case Study below or contact Dr Mitch Crook.