Blog post by Indigro independent agronomists
Indigro’s approach to agronomy centres around helping our clients’ businesses be as sustainable and profitable as possible. Therefore, we are constantly looking for ways to reduce inputs and future proof our crop production. We are also, in conjunction with our clients, environmentally minded and striving to help improve water and air quality. We are very engaged in understanding the possibility of a permanent living mulch that can suppress weeds, protect our soil, and build fertility whilst allowing us to reduce our synthetic agrochemical and fertiliser inputs.
We have been trialling the use of a white clover understorey that is grown within the cash crop for several years. Over this time, we have tried many different methods of establishment. We have discovered that the most successful method is establishing the clover in the spring, through broadcasting and rolling. Once established the clover can be grazed and glyphosate can be applied to control any weeds. The glyphosate application stresses the clover which releases nitrogen from the nodules providing a natural fertiliser for following crop establishment. The clover also acts as a carpet allowing easy establishment of cash crops in conditions that would be otherwise unsuitable.
We have carried out various trials looking at reducing inputs. Through the ability to use glyphosate and the competition the clover provides we have reduced our reliance on large stacks of residual chemistry for blackgrass control. The clover also provides a habitat for beneficial insects. This combined with the ability to drill later, and other regenerative practices has allowed us to eliminate the use of insecticides. Through Indigro’s work investigating the emissions associated with crop production we have discovered that on average over 50% of emissions are associated with the production and use of artificial fertiliser. We are excited by the prospect of substituting some of the synthetic nitrogen with nitrogen fixed by the clover understorey. The clover also increases soil biology which in turn improves soil structure, allowing the soil to cycle and hold on to more nitrogen. Whilst this work is ongoing, we have some interesting results surrounding nitrogen-use efficiency. Considering today’s fertiliser price, it won’t take a very large reduction in nitrogen to cover the cost of clover establishment.
Like many other regenerative practices, understorey of white clover has many benefits including improving soil health, reducing soil erosion, cleaner water, 24/7 sequestration of carbon, reducing inputs and opportunities to incorporate livestock. We now consider the white clover understorey as another tool in our plethora of different practices to create a sustainable and profitable farming business and a great way to introduce regenerative practices to our clients.
To find out more about Indigro independent agronomists follow this link Indigro https://indigro.co.uk/
