http://orgprints.org/8360/ Organic conversion strategies for stockless farming systems This report was presented at the UK Organic Research 2002 Conference. The identification of appropriate stockless organic conversion strategies will help farmers and growers in their decision to convert to organic production. The current practice of a two-year red clover/ryegrass ley conversion relies on subsidies to be economically viable. This standard conversion and six alternatives were tested on a sandy loam soil entering organic conversion. A test crop of winter wheat will be grown across the entire experimental area in the first fully organic year (2001/2002). Strategies containing a legume ley phase returned the greatest amount of nitrogen to the soil. At the end of the second year, pre-cultivation, there were no differences in soil mineral nitrogen between strategies. Gross margins were greater from those strategies with cash cropping than those without, in spite of the generally depressed yields. Preliminary analysis suggests that growing red clover for seed in year 1 followed by a red clover ley in year 2 could be the most profitable option. Huxham, Sally K Sparkes, Debbie L Wilson, Paul 2cropcomb 2farming farm_nutrient_management 2farmecon uk uk-cor-2002 uk-other Organic conversion strategies for stockless farming systems 2006-10-23 Huxham, Sally K; Sparkes, Debbie L and Wilson, Paul (2002) Organic conversion strategies for stockless farming systems. UK Organic Research 2002 Conference, Aberystwyth, 26-28 March 2002. In: Powell, Jane and et al., (Eds.) Proceedings of the UK Organic Research 2002 Conference, Organic Centre Wales, Institute of Rural Studies, University of Wales Aberystwyth, pp. 51-52. Powell, Jane et al., application/pdf