Themes and discussion
Find out more about organic arable farming and organic livestock husbandry, join the discussions, and exchange ideas and information with colleagues and scientists.
Soil quality and fertility
Sustainable crop production is dependent on maintaining and improving soil quality and fertility, which are in turn dependent on organic matter in the soil and its impact on the soil’s chemical, biological and physical properties. Organic matter is the source of life for the immense variety of soil microbes and soil fauna that make nutrients available and build soil structure. Therefore, crop rotations should always include a phase that allows organic matter in the soil to build up i.e. through incorporating perennial grass-clover leys or catch crops during autumn and winter. To protect soil life, the input of nutrients via manure, crop residues or other fertilisers should be well-balanced. Compaction by heavy machinery should be avoided for the same reason.
On this page, you can find tools and resources to help you improve soil quality and fertility, and you can discuss the topic with others.
Recommended toolCover crop mulches and no-till soybean
Several methods of sowing into mulch were tested: A) No-till sowing into a standing cover crop, then rolling the cover crop with a roller crimper; …
Most popular toolHow to successfully convert to organic arable farming
The leaflet addresses farmers who are interested in conversion to organic arable farming. Information includes contact points for workshops and…
Latest toolCultivation in rows – Nitrogen fixation by catch crops and their effect on yield
Row cultivation in cereals with nitrogen-fixing crops can improve nitrogen supply in the crop rotation, while reducing nitrogen leaching.…
Tools
| Title | Issuing organisation | Project | Year of release | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A farmer’s guide to organic fruit and vegetable production | Organic Centre Wales | OK-Net Arable | 2008 | 3.5 (2) |
| Advanced system in wheat: Combination of agronomical levels: The French... | PURE | OK-Net Arable | - | |
| Aerated compost tea (ACT) to improve soil biology and to act as a... | Organic Research Centre ORC, Elm Farm | OK-Net Arable , Organic Research Centre (ORC) - Elm Farm | 2017 | 4.7 (3) |
| Assessing soil structure with two simple methods : Spade Test and mini 3D soil... | ARVALIS - Institut du végétal | OK-Net Arable , ARVALIS - Institut du végétal | 2017 | |
| Autumn cover crops | Associazione Italiana Agricoltura Biologica AIAB | OK-Net Arable , IFOAM EU Group , AIAB | 2018 | 3 (4) |
| Bringing the dirt to your doorstep: organic no-till weed management | Rodale Institute, Kutztown | Selected tools , OK-Net Arable | 2014 | 2.8 (4) |
| Catch crop in maize | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | Advisory Service , OK-Net Arable | 2017 | 4 (1) |
| Cereal Disease Encyclopaedia | Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board... | OK-Net Arable , Other organizations | 2008 | |
| Challenges of Organic Arable Farming 1st module: Strategies to enhance soil... | Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari CIHEAM... | OK-Net Arable , IAMB Mediterranean Agronomic Institute Bari | 2017 | |
| Challenges of Organic Arable Farming 2nd module: Fertilization strategies to... | Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari CIHEAM... | OK-Net Arable , IAMB Mediterranean Agronomic Institute Bari | 2017 | |
| Challenges of Organic Arable Farming 4th module: Technical tools, strategies... | Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari CIHEAM... | OK-Net Arable , IAMB Mediterranean Agronomic Institute Bari | 2017 | |
| Challenges of Organic Arable Farming - 6th module: Recovery and final synthesis | Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari CIHEAM... | OK-Net Arable , IAMB Mediterranean Agronomic Institute Bari | 2017 | |
| Choosing cover crops for arable crop rotations | French Research Institute for Organic Farming ITAB | OK-Net Arable , ITAB - Institut Technique en Agriculture... , IFOAM EU Group | 2018 | |
| Commercial organic fertiliser as supplementary fertilisers in potato crop... | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | Communication , OK-Net Arable | 2017 | 4 (1) |
| Composting leaflet – agroecological approach at your farm | Bioforum Vlaanderen vzw | Bioforum Vlaanderen , OK-Net Arable | 2013 | 4.5 (2) |
| Control of creeping thistle by stubble cultivation | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | Advisory Service , OK-Net Arable , IFOAM EU Group | 2017 | 4.5 (2) |
| Controlled traffic farming: A new track for soil and weed control in organic... | INAGRO | OK-Net Arable , IFOAM EU Group | 2018 | |
| Controlling docks by stubble cultivation | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | Advisory Service , OK-Net Arable | 2017 | 4.5 (2) |
| Cover Crop (Rye) and No-Till System in Wisconsin | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | Advisory Service , OK-Net Arable | 2014 | 5 (3) |
| Cover crop and living mulch toolbox | Technical University of Munich TUM, School of Life... | Selected tools , Universität München - TUM , OK-Net Arable , OSCAR | 2014 | 3.4 (10) |
| Cover crop management and termination | Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education SARE | OK-Net Arable , Other organizations | 2014 | |
| Cover crop mulches and no-till maize | Associazione Italiana Agricoltura Biologica AIAB | OK-Net Arable , IFOAM EU Group , AIAB | 2018 | 1 (1) |
| Cover crop mulches and no-till soybean | Associazione Italiana Agricoltura Biologica AIAB | OK-Net Arable , AIAB | 2017 | |
| Crop rotation and its ability to suppress perennial weeds | SEGES | SEGES , OK-Net Arable | 2017 | 4.5 (2) |
| Crop rotation and its ability to suppress perennial weeds | SEGES | SEGES , OK-Net Arable | 2016 | 3 (1) |
| Crop Rotation in Organic Systems | Dalhousie University, Organic Agriculture Centre... | OK-Net Arable | - | |
| Crop rotations on diversified farms | Southern Regional Extension Forestry | OK-Net Arable , Other organizations | 2013 | |
| Cultivating a diverse wheat population suitable for low-input and organic... | Organic Research Centre ORC, Elm Farm | OK-Net Arable , Organic Research Centre (ORC) - Elm Farm | 2017 | |
| Cultivation in rows – Catch crops - tolerance and regrowth | Aarhus University , Copenhagen University , AgroIntelli , Økologisk VKST , Barritskov Land- og Skovbrug , SEGES Økologi Innovation | OK-Net Arable | 2018 | |
| Cultivation in rows – cereals with catch crops | SEGES Økologi Innovation , Aarhus University , Copenhagen University , AgroIntelli , Økologisk VKST , Barritskov Land- og Skovbrug | OK-Net Arable | 2018 | |
| Cultivation in rows – Nitrogen fixation by catch crops and their effect on yield | SEGES Økologi Innovation , Aarhus University , Copenhagen University , AgroIntelli , Økologisk VKST , Barritskov Land- og Skovbrug | OK-Net Arable | 2018 | |
| Cultivation in rows – Sowing time for catch crops | Aarhus University , Copenhagen University , AgroIntelli , Økologisk VKST , Barritskov Land- og Skovbrug , SEGES Økologi Innovation | OK-Net Arable | 2018 | |
| Cultivation in rows – Weed control between stubble rows | Aarhus University , Copenhagen University , AgroIntelli , Økologisk VKST , Barritskov Land- og Skovbrug , SEGES Økologi Innovation | OK-Net Arable | 2018 | |
| Cultivation in rows – Weed control in spring cereal grains | Aarhus University , Copenhagen University , AgroIntelli , Økologisk VKST , Barritskov Land- og Skovbrug , SEGES Økologi Innovation | OK-Net Arable | 2018 | |
| Demonstration of Hoeing Machines in Arable Farming | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | Communication , OK-Net Arable | 2011 | |
| Demonstration of Plough Dethatchers | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | Advisory Service , OK-Net Arable | 2014 | 4.5 (2) |
| Determine compost quality using the cress tests | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) | OK-Net Arable , FiBL - Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau... , IFOAM EU Group | 2018 | |
| Direct drilling of winter cereals | Associazione Italiana Agricoltura Biologica AIAB | OK-Net Arable , IFOAM EU Group , AIAB | 2018 | |
| Direct Sowing of Maize | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | Communication , OK-Net Arable | 2015 | |
| Direct sowing with green manure | Foundation for organic agriculture Bioselena , IFOAM EU | Bioselena , OK-Net Arable , IFOAM EU Group | 2018 | |
| Diverse fertility building leys in arable rotations | Organic Reserach Centre ORC, Elm Farm | OK-Net Arable , Organic Research Centre (ORC) - Elm Farm | 2017 | 3.5 (2) |
| DSS "Weed Control in Organic Winter Wheat Production" | University Bonn, Institute of Organic Agriculture | Institute of Organic Agriculture , OK-Net Arable | 2004 | |
| Earthworms: architects of fertile soils | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | TILMAN-ORG , Soil Sciences , OK-Net Arable , Pflanzenschutz und Biodiversität | 2014 | 3.6 (11) |
| ECOPHYTOPIC – The portal for integrated crop protection of arable crops | Les Instituts Techniques Agricoles ACTA | OK-Net Arable , ACTA - Association de Coordination Technique... | - | 3.3 (3) |
| Efficient nitrogen use from livestock manure | SEGES | SEGES , OK-Net Arable | 2016 | |
| Efficient use of nitrogen from livestock manure | SEGES | SEGES , OK-Net Arable | 2017 | 4 (2) |
| Friedrich Wenz on Soil Fertility and Reduced Tillage | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | Advisory Service , OK-Net Arable | 2014 | 5 (1) |
| Getting your land ready to grow organically – certified or not | Michigan State University | OK-Net Arable , USA | 2016 | |
| Grain legumes and soil fertility - Strategies for a successful cultivation | Federal Agency for Nature Conservation BfN | OK-Net Arable | 2014 | 3.5 (2) |
| Green manure and cover crops in organic agriculture: general introduction | French Research Institute for Organic Farming ITAB | OK-Net Arable , ITAB - Institut Technique en Agriculture... | 2012 | |
| Green manure and cover crops in organic agriculture: guide to the choice of the... | French Research Institute for Organic Farming ITAB | OK-Net Arable , ITAB - Institut Technique en Agriculture... | 2012 | 4 (3) |
| Growing cover crops in organic arable crop rotations: Best practices from... | SEGES | SEGES , OK-Net Arable | 2017 | 4 (2) |
| Growing cover crops in organic arable crop rotations: best practices from... | SEGES | SEGES , OK-Net Arable | 2016 | |
| Hairy Vetch – an Excellent Green Manure for Dry Conditions | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | Advisory Service , OK-Net Arable | 2014 | 4 (2) |
| Healthy Grassland Soils Pocketbook | Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board... | OK-Net Arable , ADAS , Other organizations , Scottish Rural Colleges (SRUC - previously SAC) , Univ. Newcastle | 2015 | |
| How to successfully convert to organic arable farming | Ländliches Fortbildungsinstitut Österreich LFI | FiBL Austria , OK-Net Arable , Weitere Organisationen | 2017 | 5 (2) |
| Incorporating Green Manures | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | Communication , OK-Net Arable | 2013 | 4.5 (2) |
| Inter-row cultivation for mechanical weed control in winter oilseed rape | PURE | OK-Net Arable | - | |
| Intercropping grain peas with barley | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | Soil Sciences , Communication , OK-Net Arable | 2015 | |
| Knowledge exchange platform for agroecology | SOLAGRO | OK-Net Arable | - | 3.2 (6) |
| LeNiBa - the KTBL / isip app for nitrogen balancing of legumes | Kuratorium für Technik und Bauwesen in der... | OK-Net Arable | - | |
| Ley Destruction with Shallow Ploughing or Cultivators | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | Communication , OK-Net Arable | 2016 | |
| Living mulch in vegetables | Associazione Italiana Agricoltura Biologica AIAB | OK-Net Arable , AIAB | 2015 | |
| Managing for Soil Health on an Organic Farm - A Farmer's Perspective | Southern Regional Extension Forestry | OK-Net Arable | 2014 | |
| Mechanical Weed Control in Maize | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | Communication , OK-Net Arable | 2013 | |
| Mechanical weeding in arable crops | French Research Institute for Organic Farming ITAB | OK-Net Arable , ITAB - Institut Technique en Agriculture... | 2012 | 4.6 (9) |
| Monitoring and comparing cover crop performances | French Research Institute for Organic Farming ITAB | OK-Net Arable , ITAB - Institut Technique en Agriculture... , IFOAM EU Group | 2018 | |
| Multispectral remote sensing in participatory on-farm variety trials | Hungarian Research Institute of Organic... | OK-Net Arable , Ökológiai Mezőgazdasági Kutatóintézet , IFOAM EU Group | 2018 | |
| NDICEA - Nitrogen Planer – version 6.2 | Louis Bolk Institute | Louis Bolk Institute , OK-Net Arable , Organic Research Centre (ORC) - Elm Farm | 2014 | 4 (4) |
| New ways of stubble cultivation | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | OK-Net Arable | 2010 | |
| Nitrogen budget calculator. A tool to calculate N-budgets in organic forage... | Leibniz-Zentrum für Agrarlandschaftsforschung... | Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research - ZALF | 2013 | 3.8 (4) |
| No-till cultivation of maize in rolled forage peas | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) | Advisory Service , OK-Net Arable | 2017 | |
| Nutrient Budgeting: Organic Considerations for Implementing NRCS CPS 590 | Southern Regional Extension Forestry | OK-Net Arable | 2014 | |
| Nutrient management in farms in conversion to organic | Sächsische Landesanstalt für Umwelt,... | Landesanstalt Landwirtschaft , OK-Net Arable | 2008 | |
| Nutrient supply | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | OK-Net Arable , FiBL - Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau... | 2011 | 2 (1) |
| Oregon Tilth 2017 WEBINAR SERIES | Oregon Tilth | OK-Net Arable | 2017 | |
| Organic Cereals | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | OK-Net Arable , FiBL - Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau... | 2010 | 4 (2) |
| Organic Cover Cropping and Intercropping | Washington State University - Puyallup | OK-Net Arable | 2011 | |
| Organic cultivation in autumn 2016 - Varieties, Seeds and Crop management | Ländliches Fortbildungsinstitut Österreich LFI | FiBL Austria , OK-Net Arable , Weitere Organisationen | 2016 | |
| Organic Cultivation in Spring 2016 - Varieties, Seeds and Crop management | Ländliches Fortbildungsinstitut Österreich LFI | FiBL Austria , OK-Net Arable , Weitere Organisationen | 2016 | |
| Organic Field Crop Production | Dalhousie University, Organic Agriculture Centre... | OK-Net Arable | - | |
| Organic no-till systems | Southern Regional Extension Forestry | OK-Net Arable | 2013 | |
| Organic quality wheat production - Results of long-term field trials of... | Ländliches Fortbildungsinstitut Österreich LFI | FiBL Austria , OK-Net Arable , Weitere Organisationen | 2016 | |
| Organic Small Grain Production | Southern Regional Extension Forestry | OK-Net Arable | 2011 | |
| Organic Weed Management: A Practical Guide | Charles Merfield | OK-Net Arable | 2000 | |
| Pest Management in Organic Cropping Systems | Dalhousie University, Organic Agriculture Centre... | Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada/Centre... , OK-Net Arable | - | |
| Pest Management in Organic Production Systems | Southern Regional Extension Forestry | OK-Net Arable | 2011 | |
| Potato Crop Management | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | Communication , OK-Net Arable | 2010 | |
| Practical advice for organic production of lupines | Landesforschungsanstalt für Landwirtschaft und... | OK-Net Arable | 2014 | 4 (4) |
| Practice Abstract: Intercropping grain peas with barley | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | Advisory Service , OK-Net Arable | 2017 | 4.3 (3) |
| Processing Quality of Organic Wheat | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | Advisory Service , OK-Net Arable | 2015 | |
| Quick test for infiltration of arable soils | Bioland , FiBL Projekte GmbH | Bioland , FiBL Projects GmbH , OK-Net Arable , IFOAM EU Group | 2018 | |
| Reduced Tillage | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) | Advisory Service , OK-Net Arable | 2014 | |
| Reduced Tillage Stubble Incorporation - Comparsion of Different Machine Types | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | Communication , OK-Net Arable | 2013 | 4 (1) |
| Reduced Tillage Systems - Practical Recommendation | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | Advisory Service , OK-Net Arable | 2014 | 3.7 (3) |
| Regionally adapted humus balance in organic farming | Sächsische Landesanstalt für Umwelt,... | AK Versuchsansteller Ökologischer Landbau , Landesamt für Umwelt, Landwirtschaft und Geologie , OK-Net Arable | 2013 | 3.7 (3) |
| Results an lessons learnt from field vegetables activity - cabbage | PURE | OK-Net Arable | - | |
| Results and lessons learnt from wheat-based cropping system activity | PURE | OK-Net Arable | - | |
| Rolling of grains to prevent winter kill damage | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | Advisory Service , OK-Net Arable | 2017 | |
| ROTOR: organic crop rotation planner | Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research... | OK-Net Arable | 2007 | 4.6 (11) |
| Satellite based and camera-controlled steering systems | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | Communication , OK-Net Arable | 2015 | 2 (1) |
| Shallow Ploughing of Leys – Comparison of Different Plough and Cultivator Types | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | Advisory Service , OK-Net Arable | 2015 | |
| Simple building blocks for improved soil fertility – Look and judge yourself | INAGRO | OK-Net Arable | 2007 | |
| SmartSOIL Tool | Aarhus University | Department of Agroecology , OK-Net Arable | 2015 | 2 (3) |
| Soil and Fertility Management in Organic Systems | Dalhousie University, Organic Agriculture Centre... | Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada/Centre... , OK-Net Arable | - | |
| Soil fertility - manure treatment | Landwirtschaftliches Zentrum Liebegg | OK-Net Arable , Other organizations | 2009 | |
| Soil protection and Crop Rotation | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | Soil Sciences , Advisory Service , OK-Net Arable | 2007 | |
| Soil quality test kit guide | United States Department of Agriculture USDA | OK-Net Arable | 2001 | 3.1 (7) |
| Soil tillage | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | OK-Net Arable | 2013 | |
| SOILapp | School of Advanced Studies Sant'Anna, Institute of... , Scuola Esperienziale Itinerante di Agricoltura... , The Greek Network for Biodiversity and Ecology in... | OK-Net Arable , Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna of Pisa | 2018 | |
| Sort Out Your Soil: A practical guide to green manures | Cotswold Seeds Ltd , Garden Organic | OK-Net Arable , Garden Organic (HDRA) | - | 4 (5) |
| Spade test | Institut supérieure d’agriculture Lyon ISARA | FertilCrop , OK-Net Arable , ISARA - Institut supérieure d’agriculture Lyon | 2016 | |
| Testing peas for legume fatigue | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | Advisory Service , OK-Net Arable | 2017 | 5 (1) |
| The Basics of Soil Fertility | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | Soil Sciences , OK-Net Arable | 2013 | 3.5 (2) |
| The Muencheberg Soil Quality Rating (SQR) | Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research... | OK-Net Arable | 2007 | 4 (4) |
| The Spade test - Visual soil assessment in the field | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | Soil Sciences , Communication , OK-Net Arable | 2016 | 4.5 (2) |
| The use of legumes - Nature-compatible cultivation practices | Federal Agency for Nature Conservation BfN | Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) , FiBL Deutschland - Forschungsinstitut für... , OK-Net Arable , Department of Organic Farming and Cropping | 2014 | |
| Transition to organic production | Dalhousie University, Organic Agriculture Centre... | Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada/Centre... , OK-Net Arable | - | |
| Use of variety mixtures to reduce disease, increase resource-use efficiency... | PURE | OK-Net Arable | - | |
| Using crop rotation to control wireworms | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | Communication , OK-Net Arable | 2017 | 4 (1) |
| Visual soil assessment: field guide for cropping | Landcare Research | OK-Net Arable | 2000 | 4.4 (5) |
| Weed control in organic farming through mechanical solutions | University of Kassel, Agricultural Engineering | OK-Net Arable , University of Kassel | 2011 | 3.5 (4) |
| Weed control in soy with the finger weeder | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | Advisory Service , OK-Net Arable | 2017 | |
| Weed harrowing in spring cereals | PURE | OK-Net Arable | - | |
| Winter field peas as green manure before maize | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | Advisory Service , OK-Net Arable | 2017 | 4.5 (2) |
Discussion forum
Here you can discuss your problems and solutions for this theme