Skip the Northern Ireland Government Bar|
Skip navigation
   
Only
two of the fields on the unit are really suitable for potatoe

Cropping rotation on the unit

A key part of most organic farms is the development of a cropping rotation.
The Greenmount Unit relies on legume-based swards for livestock production and for fertility building for arable crops, but does not have a simple single rotation. This is not an uncommon situation.
The Unit is split into three blocks of land based on the soil type and subsequent suitability for arable crop production. Each block then has its own rotation, though they all operate together to ensure a balance in the relative proportions of fodder, forage and arable cropping.
greenmount organic unit map

   
Block 1 – mainly arable
s as they consist of a medium clay-loam soil with good drainage.
These fields are themselves split into blocks and have a rotation incorporating potatoes, cereals and legume crops (peas and lupins), plus a predominance of short-term red clover-based swards and some white clover-based leys.
   Block 2 – part cereals    
A further five fields have a heavier clay-loam soil and are best suited to grass-white clover swards. They will however grow reasonable cereal crops and occasional cereals will facilitate reseeding to maintain young swards.
   Block 3 – permanent pasture    
Five fields at the lowest level of the farm have a peaty soil, a high water table and are unsuitable for ploughing. They have been improved by using a ‘shakerator’ to improve drainage and soil structure, and white clover has been ‘stitched in’. They will remain as permanent pasture.
A key feature of the two rotations where cultivation will occur is the flexibility to grow more or less cereals, as required, and the ability to substitute red with white clover as required.
© DARD 2008