Using legume-based mixtures to enhance the nitrogen use efficiency and economic viability of cropping systems
Nutrition /
PR513 /
Published: 30 August 2013
This is the final report of a 39 month project (RD-2007-3447) which started in December 2008. This project explored how recently developed ecological theories of the efficiency and stability of resource use in natural plant communities can be applied to improve N use within UK arable farming systems. |
Managing uncropped land in order to enhance biodiversity benefits of the arable farmed landscape – The Farm4bio project
Environment /
PR508 /
Published: 18 February 2013
PR508 |
Desk study to evaluate contributory causes of the current yield plateau in wheat and oilseed rape
Genetics /
PR502 /
Published: 13 November 2012
To address the lack of progression in UK average farm yields for wheat and oilseed rape, national yield trends were analysed in relation to cropped area, genetic improvement, weather patterns, economic influences, crop nutrition and protection, plus other aspects of agronomy (project 3760). |
Adapting wheat to global warming (ERYCC)
Genetics /
PR496 /
Published: 18 July 2012
In future years, UK wheat is likely to be grown under earlier and more frequently stressed conditions due to climate change. In this project, 64 UK, French and other elite varieties (the ERYCC panel) released between 1953 and 2008 were characterised to inform breeders of trait sources and trends associated with adaptation of wheat to these conditions. Dates of key growth stages, yield stability traits (e.g. stem reserves, ear fertility) and yield determining traits were measured in nine experiments in Eastern England between 2008 and 2010, augmented by data from a further six experiments between 2007 and 2010. Specific additional experiments tested the 64 varieties responses to vernalisation (using a breeders vernalisation chamber) and photoperiod (using daylength extension lamps in the field), and the varieties were typed for major genes controlling height and responses to vernalisation and photoperiod. |
Assessing the drought risk of oilseed rape to target future improvements to root systems
Environment /
SR20 (PhD) /
Published: 10 May 2012
It has been suggested that root length density in the subsoil of many UK oilseed rape crops may be insufficient to fully explore the soil horizon and therefore limit supply of water to the crop (HGCA Project Report 402). Information on water relations of oilseed rape is, however, lacking.
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Improving water use efficiency and drought tolerance in UK winter wheats
Variety trials /
PR476 /
Published: 5 July 2011
A genetically diverse set of 120 wheat varieties was evaluated for drought tolerance (DT) under irrigated and managed drought conditions in the field. There was significant variation for DT, water use efficiency (WUE), yield potential and yield stability. Although the ranking of varieties differed with each year, several varieties showed consistently better than average DT, and another set poorer than average. There was significant variation between varieties for anatomical and physiological traits associated with performance under water-limited conditions.
The full technical report for this project will be available at a later date. |
Better Organic Bread: Integrating raw material and process requirements for organic bread production
Feed and food safety /
PR474 /
Published: 15 October 2010
This project aimed to develop agronomic strategies and optimise milling and baking processes which enable more UK produced organic wheat to be used for breadmaking. |
Genetic Reduction of Energy use and Emissions of Nitrogen through cereal production: GREEN grain
Environment /
PR468 /
Published: 16 June 2010
This project initiated the development of a new wheat type for the UK one with high energy grain, suited to alcohol production and livestock feeding, and with low nitrogen fertiliser requirements hence low environmental impacts |
An up-to-date cost:benefit analysis of precision farming techniques to guide growers of cereals and oilseeds
Weeds /
RR71 /
Published: 20 May 2009
Economic benefits may result from higher yields, saved inputs or faster work rates, and depend on farm size, cropping and the amount of soil, crop or yield variation as well as crop values and input prices. |
Understanding and managing uncertainties to improve biofuel GHG emissions calculations
Industrial uses /
PR435 Part 2 /
Published: 30 July 2008
This report reviews the nature and extent of uncertainties surrounding greenhouse gas emissions for biofuel feedstock production. |
