Environmental Stewardship

Environmental Stewardship

  • Submitted By: hearlepayne
  • Date Submitted: 11/16/2010 3:26 AM
  • Category: Science
  • Words: 2459
  • Page: 10
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Environmental Stewardship Proposal
for
Harper Adams

May 2007

Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . 3.
Crop Rotation . . . . . . . 3.
Environmental Stewardship . . . . . 5.
Entry Level Stewardship . . . . . 5.
ELS Options . . . . . . . 6.
Higher Level Stewardship . . . . . 11.
HLS Options . . . . . . . 11.
Justification . . . . . . . 12.
Conclusion . . . . . . . 13.
References . . . . . . . 13.
Appendix 1. . . . . . . . 14.

Introduction

The aim of this report is to create an environmentally and economically viable and sustainable crop rotation for the arable area of Harper Adams which incorporates Swans Leasow, Crabtree Leasow, Buttery Hill, Horse Foxhole, Birds Nest, Fourgates and Poor Lands.

An environmental stewardship plan will then be proposed which will provide income from both Entry Level and Higher Level Stewardship. The proposal will include information regarding what options have been chosen and what species these options will encourage.

Crop Rotation

Crop rotations are an important part of integrated farm management. They are used to ensure that healthy, vigorous crops are grown which, produce economically viable yields by utilising natural resources to their full potential (Syngenta, 2007). The use of rotations builds soil fertility and reduces the incidences of pests and diseases. This is because different crops will utilise soil minerals in different amounts and will affect soil structure in different ways. Leguminous crops will also put nitrogen into the soil. The sequence of the crops will aid in the control of weeds, pests and diseases. The use of diverse crop rotations will also spread the farm workload, limit the risk of poor incomes, and reduce the impact of any one crop on the environment (The Game Conservancy Trust, 2007, Finch et al, 2002).

The suggested crop rotation for the Harper Adams University College farm is shown in figure 1 and table 1.
[pic]
Figure 1. Suggested crop rotation for Harper...

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