🌾 Woodend Farm 2025 On-Farm Trial – Phosphorus Activation & Crop Legacy Effects

Farm: Woodend Farming Partnership, Duns, Scottish Borders
Lead Farmer: John Seed
Agronomist: Gavin Robertson (Agrii)
Trial Year: 2025
YEN Zero Participation: Yes

🔥 Project Introduction

This on-farm trial at Woodend Farm is assessing the impact of Agrii-Start Release on phosphate availability in winter beans and spring oats, alongside monitoring second-year effects of growing beans and clover undersowing on subsequent wheat yield and nitrogen use. The trial also explores the role of home-grown protein from beans in supporting soil fertility and crop performance.

🎯 Trial Objectives

1. Evaluate the effect of Agrii-Start Release (P activator) on crop performance and phosphate availability in winter beans and spring barley.

2. Monitor second-year effects of undersown clover and bean cropping on subsequent wheat yield, soil nitrogen supply, and nitrogen use efficiency.

3. Gather data to support decision-making on input use, soil health, and nutrient cycling at Woodend Farm.

4. Share results and learning with the wider farming community via FarmPEP and YEN Zero.

🌱 Trial Layout & Treatments – 2025 Season

1. Broomhill Field – Agrii-Start Release Trial

• Current Crops:

  • Winter Beans (Vespa) drilled autumn 2024

  • Spring Oats (Canyon) drilled spring 2025 in a 36m strip

• Treatment:

  • Agrii-Start Release @ 4L/ha applied across entire field.

  • Control strips:

    • 18m untreated strip in winter beans

    • 18m untreated strip in spring barley

• Monitoring: Yield, grain quality, soil phosphate levels, crop N uptake.

2. Garden Park Field – Clover & Beans Legacy Wheat Trial

• Current Crop: Winter Wheat (Feed, Dawsum)

• Previous Cropping:

  • 2023: Spring Oats & Spring Beans

  • 2024: Clover undersown into standing oats and beans in two areas

• Trial Areas:

  • A: Oats (untreated) → Wheat

  • B: Oats (clover undersown) → Wheat

  • C: Beans (clover undersown) → Wheat

• Monitoring: Yield, nitrogen uptake, soil N supply, NUE.

3. Garden Park Field – Spring Oat Trial

• Current Crop: Spring Oats

• Date Sown: 31st March 2025

• Details: Trial area established to continue monitoring rotational effects and input efficiency.

📸 Trial Plan

📊 Data Collection

• Yield & grain quality in all trial areas

• Soil N Supply (SMN+ data collected March 2025)

• Grain nutrient content

• Fertiliser application records

• Crop input costs & gross margin analysis

• YEN Zero metrics & data submission

🌍 Why This Trial?

This trial builds on previous years’ work at Woodend to explore practical ways to improve nutrient use efficiency, make better use of home-grown protein crops, and enhance soil health. By combining targeted inputs with rotational benefits from legumes and clover, the aim is to reduce reliance on artificial fertilisers and improve farm resilience.