Maintain / improve food quality Improve cereal grain quality Reduce lodging in crops Accurate calculation of nutrient requirements of arable crops
Establish a low plant population (less than 200 plants/m2) if drilling early (before October)
Use plant growth regulators (PGRs) on cereal crops
Control stem-base diseases
Reduced excess nitrogen accumulation in arable soils Increase vegetative uptake of nutrients by arable crops Cover crop after harvest through the winter
Improve soil structure on arable land Minimal tillage
Zero tillage
Undertake mechanical field operations on arable land when the soil is waterlogged
Loosen compacted soil layers on arable land Shallow spiking, slitting or subsoiling
Avoid mechanical field operations on arable land when the soil is waterlogged
Increase soil organic matter on arable land Incorporate crop residues Minimal tillage
Zero tillage
Do not burn crop residues
Include a grass/clover ley during the rotation
Incorporation of FYM into arable land
Reduce soil organic carbon oxidation on arable land Convert grassland to arable (by ploughing)
Zero tillage
Minimal tillage
Drain and cultivate peat soils
Cover crop after harvest through the winter
Improve arable crop establishment Arable land is left with a rough surface following operations such as ploughing, discing or tine cultivation
Improve arable crop nutrition Accurate calculation of nutrient requirements of arable crops
Predict crop nutrient requirements using canopy management or chlorophyll testing
Convert arable land to extensive grassland
Apply nitrogen in excess of arable crop requirements
Solid poultry manure used on arable farms that does not have bedding mixed into it is covered with an impermeable material
Do not locate field manure heaps on arable land in the same place as an earlier one constructed within the last two years
Do not locate field manure heaps in any single position on arable land for more than 12 consecutive months
Restrict applications of nutrients to arable crops when plant uptake is low
Reduce nutrient inputs to arable land Place limits the amount of nitrogen applied to arable crops
Do not use manufactured nitrogen fertiliser
Accurate application of nutrients to arable crops Calibrate fertiliser spreader used on arable land
Accurate calculation of nutrients available in livestock manure used on arable crops
Accurate spreading of fertiliser on arable land
Regular soil nutrient testing on arable land
Predict crop nutrient requirements using canopy management or chlorophyll testing
Accurate calculation of nutrient requirements of arable crops
Convert arable land to extensive grassland
Accurate application of nutrients to arable crops Calibrate fertiliser spreader used on arable land
Accurate calculation of nutrients available in livestock manure used on arable crops
Accurate spreading of fertiliser on arable land
Regular soil nutrient testing on arable land
Predict crop nutrient requirements using canopy management or chlorophyll testing
Accurate calculation of nutrient requirements of arable crops
Choose a variety with a high standing power score (on the Recommended List) on lodging-prone sites
Reduce damage to crops by pests Use biological control on food crops
Continuous cropping (monoculture)
Use mechanical or flame weeding on non-food crops (incl grass and forage)
Use a diverse crop rotation to reduce the incidence of weeds, pests and diseases in non-food crops (incl grass and forage)
Use synthetic pesticides on non-food crops (incl grass and forage)
Improve arable crop nutrition Accurate calculation of nutrient requirements of arable crops
Predict crop nutrient requirements using canopy management or chlorophyll testing
Use mechanical or flame weeding on food crops
Use synthetic pesticides on food crops
Use pest and disease resistant varieties for food crops
Use a diverse crop rotation to reduce the incidence of weeds, pests and diseases in food crops
Encourage beneficial insects Create 6m uncropped cultivated margins on arable land
Create beetle banks