Hybrid system aims to reduce chemical inputs with soil focus

摘要

An agronomist has developed a farming system to help cut reliance on artificial Chemicals without affecting yield and quality. Emma Gillbard reports.Anew agronomy system developed in Scotland aims to put integrated pest management into practice, thereby helping growers spend less on crop inputs while maintaining yields.Its principles can be applied to any crop or farm, and it starts out by confirming soil status on a field-by-field basis.Hybrid Farming Systems, established by Scottish independent agronomist Andy Cheetham, combines organic and conventional farming practices to help reduce reliance on artificial chemicals. Assessing crop nutrition, soil cation exchange capacity and use of natural crop inputs is the system's core focus.