Progress with Wensum DTC Measures and Monitoring

email: [email protected] www.wensumalliance.org.uk

Progress with Wensum DTC Measures and Monitoring

Andrew Lovett

School of Environmental SciencesUniversity of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK

(e-mail [email protected])

3rd December 2013

http://www.defra.gov.uk/index.htm


Wensum Study Area

Implementation of Cultivation Measures

Swanhills 6/10/13

9 Fields (143 ha) managed in 3 blocks

http://images.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=discordon&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=zK1627JXx3HCUM&tbnid=EOGHu10eSzKAdM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://www.gregoire-besson.co.uk/ranges/discs-and-tines/discordon/dxn2.html&ei=uif2Ua7OLpSk0AW1uoHQDQ&bvm=bv.49784469,d.ZG4&psig=AFQjCNGxXRJFkwSGMoM-YFSjO8l1rrkVzw&ust=1375172788304888

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=slyagri+strip+till&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=bYIdPcxLaa7UWM&tbnid=5SMc-aLC-8yh1M:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://www.ferroflex.hu/talaj_index.php&ei=Pyr2UeGoPLCW0QXK6oGYCQ&bvm=bv.49784469,d.d2k&psig=AFQjCNHKE6faYF9daPbmAISqjdqixJ3BAA&ust=1375173510934322


13.89 ha 11.81 ha 14.94 ha

26.86 ha 14.11 ha 10.46 ha

20.43 ha 12.92 ha 17.33 ha

Total area = 142.75 ha

Cereal Fields 26th July 2013


18 August 2013 16 August 2013

18 August 2013 7 September 2013


6th October 2013

Oilseed Radish:Seed rate 18 kg/ha (total 1,836 kg) Cost £4,957

Starter Fertiliser N:Application rate 30 kg/haCost £2,093

Control fields: 40.75 ha Oilseed radish: 102 ha


13th October 2013

Oilseed radish at 4-6 leaf stageField Measurements

• Soil texture• Soil structure• Infiltration rate• Bulk density

• Dry matter %w/w• Soil mineral N mg/kg• Soil ammonium N mg/kg• pH• P, K, Mg indices

• Soil biology

• Soil water quality (via porous pots)

• Crop cover

• Weekly monitoring of field drainsEC scan shallow depth (0–40 cm)

Biobed Monitoring• Biobed at Manor Farm cost ~ 70 k

• Samples being collected from porous pots on fortnightly basis and analysed in with support from CSF / Environment Agency

Woodland Planting Scheme

Key issues are maintaining water flow through to kiosk, cost of earth moving and achieving multiple objectives.

Plan being developed in conjunction with the Forestry Commission (support from Woodland Grant Scheme), IDB and Norfolk Wildlife Trust.

Photo View

Currently Favoured Design

Earthworks in summer 2014, tree planting in late 2014. Implementation cost currently estimated at ~ £25 k.

Documents

Progress with Wensum DTC Measures and Monitoring