The LUNZ Hub project is developing a Viability Indicator to demonstrate, compare and contrast different management techniques. This is at the early stages of development and with some interventions now scored it can help demonstrate the best choices in specific situations. High scores, up to +3, near the outside of the graphic are good. The centre, up to-3, are bad.
It now enables us to consider the relative implications of different on-farm choices. A key observation is that in most cases there will be compromises on the outcomes which will be informed by local priorities. Below are two examples, and a link to finding out more information.
Q1: Am I better including an additive, such as 3NOP, in the animal feed or replacing inorganic N with legumes in my forage?
A1: The output below shows the implications of the feed additive (red) or adding legumes (blue). The assessment highlights that whilst both can have similar implications on productivity, GHG impacts and speed there are some important differences for other parameters (such as soil health, water quality and operational costs.
Q2: Can I improve soil management practices and what implications does this have?
A2: The options compared in the second graphic are using controlled traffic approaches to crop management (red), using shallow (10-15cm max) cultivation (blue) or measuring and monitoring soil health (green).This highlights some important differences between interventions. If soil health and monitoring is not already in place this can easily, and with minimal cost, help improve soil health, water quality and productivity. However, to go further on reducing GHG impacts shallow cultivation will be more effective and less costly but with smaller benefits on soil health and water quality. By comparison controlled traffic farming will be best for air quality and has many other benefits it is also not best on all measures.
If you would like to see more detail on the indicator and greater explanation please visit the LUNZ Hub Viability Indicator page on FarmPEP. To access this you need to be a registered user on FarmPEP. This is a free and quick process which will then allow you to comment on the VI and we know more about you to put your feedback into context. Registration will also enhance and tailor your overall experience on FarmPEP and allows users to connect with other agricultural stakeholders, share knowledge, and access resources related to farm-centric innovation and research.
The indicator will be further developed with more interventions in due course and we will inform registered users as they become available.
