The Scottish Society for Crop Research (SSCR) is holding their Combinable and Energy Crops Winter Meeting at the James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie on Tuesday 6 March 2018. The event is open to anyone in the cereals and energy crops industry and other interested parties. BASIS points will be applied for.
CPD Points
Delegates will be awarded 2 BASIS points on attendance.
Programme
Improving the Sustainability of Arable Cropping: results from the first rotation at the Centre for Sustainable Cropping
The Centre for Sustainable Cropping Platform is based at Balruddery Farm near Dundee, and comprises a 42 ha block of six fields, established in 2009 to integrate sustainability research in arable ecosystems. It is the first of its scale in the UK and provides an open research facility to test and demonstrate the economic, ecological and environmental trade-offs in sustainable land management. The platform provides a whole systems framework for designing and testing cropping systems to optimise yield, biodiversity and environmental health for long-term food security.
At this meeting, we will present some of the initial findings for the first crop rotation (2011-2016), comparing the integrated system directly with current conventional practice. Data on crop yield and quality, Biological Nitrogen Fixation for reducing mineral N inputs, biodiversity, soil health and the economic implications of alternative management strategies will be used to evaluate and improve on the cropping system in future rotations.
13:15 Registration opens
13:45 Introduction to the Centre for Sustainable Cropping Long-term Platform: Cathy Hawes, James Hutton Institute
13:55 Crops yield and weed responses to an integrated cropping system and implications for system functions: Cathy Hawes, James Hutton Institute
14:15 Rhizobium leguminosarum genotypes associated with high levels of Biological Nitrogen Fixation by faba bean: Euan James, James Hutton Institute
14:35 Using GC-MS based metabolite profiling to compare the effects of different management practices on the composition of cereal crops: Tom Shepherd, James Hutton Institute
14:55 Coffee, tea and cakes
15:10 Soil management for potatoes: Blair McKenzie, James Hutton Institute
15:30 The economics of alternative crop production systems in the context of farmer participation in carbon trading markets: Yakubu Abdul-Salam, James Hutton Institute
15:50 Refining the system for the future: Cathy Hawes, James Hutton Institute
16:00 Wrap up
Attending
Spaces at this event are limited and attendees are requested to pre-register so that sufficient catering can be provided.
There is an attendance fee of £15 for non-SSCR members, payable on the day. These visitors will be encouraged to join the Society for the annual fee of £15.
For more information or to register to attend the event, please contact:
Pam Cassidy
Events Coordinator
The James Hutton Institute
Dundee DD2 5DA
Tel: 01382 568 751
Email: events@hutton.ac.uk
