Technical Notes

Fertiliser Crops & Soils Animal Health & Welfare Energy Conservation & Biodiversity

Fertiliser

Soils Information, Texture & Liming Recommendations - TN656

Web based access to information on your soils on your farm.

Soil texture classes of mineral soil

Liming recommendations for different soils and managements.

TN699: Agricultural use of biosolids composts anaerobic digestates and other industrial organic fertilisers

Many organic fertilisers such as sewage sludge (biosolids), composts, anaerobic digestates and industrial wastes applied to
agricultural land are valuable sources of plant nutrients.

Liming Materials & Recommendations - TN714

Maintaining the optimum pH in the topsoil in all parts of the field is important to achieve optimum yields and consistent quality

Phosphate & Potash Recommendations: Highlands & Islands - TN715

Regular soil analysis with accompanying field information is essential to manage soil
PK inputs for optimum yields, profitability and minimising pollution

Phosphate & Potash Recommendations: SW Scotland - TN716

Regular soil analysis with accompanying field information is essential to manage soil
PK inputs for optimum yields, profitability and minimising pollution

Phosphate & Potash Recommendations: NE Scotland & Tayside - TN717

Regular soil analysis with accompanying field information is essential to manage soil
PK inputs for optimum yields, profitability and minimising pollution

Phosphate & Potash Recommendations: Fife, Lothian & Scottish Borders - TN718

Regular soil analysis with accompanying field information is essential to manage soil
PK inputs for optimum yields, profitability and minimising pollution

Fertiliser Recommendations For Grassland - TN726

The main limitations to grass production are temperature, moisture, soil pH, soil drainage and structure, and nitrogen (N).
This technical note shows how to calculate the optimal amount of N that should be applied.

Nitrogren Recommendations For Cereals, Oilseed Rape, And Potatoes - TN 731

Applying the correct amount of N at the correct time is an essential feature of good crop management.

Fertiliser Recommendations For Vegetables, Minority Arable Crops And Bulbs - TN734

Fertilisers should be applied at rates that are likely to result in the maximum yield of crops of acceptable quality, whilst ensuring protection of the surrounding
environment.

Optimising The Applications Of Livestock Farmyard Manures And Slurries: TN736

Livestock manures applied to agricultural land are valuable sources of organic matter, major and secondary plant nutrients.

Technical note (TN740): Fertiliser recommendations for soft fruit and rhubarb crops

Problems of soil acidity and compaction should be addressed before planting since it will be much more difficult to do so once crops have been planted.

Crops & Soils

TN685 Sulphur Reccomendations for Crops

Sulphur (S) is an essential crop nutrient. As atmospheric deposition of S continues to decline due to reduced emissions from industrial sources, the risk of S deficiency affects an increasingly wide area of farmed land

TN691 Plants and Planting Methods

Forest nurseries offer a wide range of plants that can vary considerably in terms of size, provenance, age and method of production. There is also a variety of techniques you can use for tree planting and ground preparation.

TN710 Soil Analysis in the West Highlands and Islands

This technical note details which is the best method for analysing various soil types and what impact that would have on recommendations for grass and crop fertiliser requirements

TN719 Recommended Grass and Clover Varieties

The varieties listed are recommended for use in Scotland. First-choice varieties are highlighted by capitals. Recently introduced first-choice varieties are provisional ratings, pending further trials.

TN723 Pest Management Post Neonicotinoids

One of the two remaining neonicotinoid insecticides are being withdrawn in 2022 or under review. The impact of the loss of all bar one of the neonicotinoid insecticides is summarised below

TN725 Integrated Pest Management

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) takes a whole farm approach to managing the land which:-

Maximizes the efficiency of crop production
Minimizes negative effects on the environment

Technical note (TN727): Winter Oilseed Rape – Integrated Weed Management

Winter oilseed rape is particularly well suited to northern UK. It is an excellent break crop for wheat and barley. It can give a tonne/ha or more yield benefit to a following winter wheat crop compared with an equivalent second wheat.

Technical Note (TN731): Nitrogen Recommendations for Cereals, Oilseed Rape and Potatoes

In response to higher nitrogen (N) fertiliser prices a table of possible yield reductions for winter and spring cereals has been compiled.

Technical Note (TN735): Biofumigation to suppress pests, weeds and diseases

Biofumigation is the suppression of soil-borne pests and pathogens by compounds emitted from brassica green manure crops macerated and incorporated into the soil.

Technical note (TN739): Use of a Sward Lifter to Improve Grassland Soil Compaction

A good soil structure is essential to achieve optimum grassland growth. Soil structure is determined by the way that particles of soil are bound together to form fragments

TN757: Management of manganese in soils for arable crops

Manganese (Mn) deficiency is the most widespread trace element problem in arable crops in the UK and is most seen in cereals.

Technical note (TN760): Recommended Grass and Clover Varieties 2022-2023

The agricultural industry in Scotland is co-operating in a scheme to ensure the continuation of the SRUC Recommended List of grass and clover varieties.

Technical Note (TN753): Management of Inputs of Heavy Metals to Agricultural Soils and Crops

Information on the significance of inputs of these heavy metals for agricultural soils and crops is provided in this technical note.

Technical Note (TN672): Grain Analysis for Cereals

Information on how grain analysis can help improve your understanding of nutrient uptake across your farm.

Animal Health & Welfare

TN681 Nutritional Management of Artificially Reared
Calves

The early nutritional management of new born calves has a major
impact on health and survival.

TN689 Cattle Housing and Ventilation

This technical note deals specifically with the design of natural ventilation systems to achieve optimal climatic conditions within cattle housing.

TN694 Alternative Forages for Sheep: Fodder Beet

Fodder beet is a highly palatable, digestible feed for livestock offering a sugar rich energy feed.

TN702 Body Condition Scoring of
Mature Sheep

Condition scoring sheep is a simple, effective and cheap management tool for all flock owners to use to evaluate the body reserves of adult sheep.

TN713 Flock Biosecurity for Sheep

Effective biosecurity is paramount for infectious disease control – it helps to prevent disease entering or leaving a farm.

TN733 Forage Crops for Livestock

Forage crops offer a high yielding high quality food stuff to feed to livestock in months
were grass growth is limited. There are two types of fodder crop, leafy plants and
those with bulbs

TN743 Johne’s Disease
in Cattle

Johne’s Disease is an infectious condition of cattle caused by Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis (Map).

TN744 Management of
Replacement Heifers into the Suckler Herd

Careful management of replacement beef heifers is required for their
successful entry into the breeding herd, especially when targeting calving at two years of age.

TN745 Metabolic Profiling in the Suckler Her

Metabolic profiling is a useful management tool to “ask the cows” what they
think of their diet, to assess nutritional and health status of the herd.

TN746 Management of Nutrition Around Calving in the Suckler Herd

Nutrition and body condition of the suckler cow has a very important role to play in ensuring the cow successfully delivers and rears a calf every year. Nutrition around calving impacts on calving ease, calf survival and cow fertility.

TN747 Recording Lamb Traits

Lambing ease, lamb vigour, lamb birth weight and ewe maternal ability
have a significant impact on lamb survival rates and labour requirements at
lambing.

TN748 Strategic Silage Production For Sheep Systems

The aim of any winter-feeding system is to fill the winter feed deficit and be as low cost as possible, whilst meeting the nutritional requirements of the pregnant ewe to optimise performance and profitability.

TN749 Treatments to Grain for Feeding Ruminants

Here we outline the options for preserving early harvested and conventionally harvested cereal crops. Some options also enhance nutritional quality of the cereals.

TN755 Using Estimated
Breeding Values (EBVs) in Sheep

Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) estimate the genetic potential of an animal for
particular traits.

Energy

TN680 Hydropower
(small-scale

Here, we examines the opportunities for development of new small scale hydro projects by farms and rural businesses.

TN698 Anaerobic Digestion (Farm Scale)

AD is a natural process in which micro-organisms break down
organic matter in the absence of oxygen into biogas and digestate

TN703 Heat Pumps

Heat pumps are often described as fridges in reverse. In fact they are just fridges running in exactly the same way, the equipment on a fridge takes heat from the inside of the fridge
and moves it to the outside of the fridge

TN704 Energy Storage and Demand Management

These solutions can be employed at
a very small scale “behind the meter” for the benefit of farms and other consumers, but can also be employed at a larger scale to
support the wider electricity market

TN706 RHI Sustainability – Becoming Biomass Suppliers List (BSL)

This technical note details the BSL
application process and clarifies the terminology used

TN707 RHI Sustainability – Bio Combustion

For those biomass boiler owners who have decided to produce their own woodfuel, it is important to make sure that everything in their supply chain fits the RHI sustainability criteria

TN708 RHI Sustainability – Biogas Combustion

Biogas combustion covers both combustion in a biogas boiler and in an internal combustion engine to generate electricity and heat – Combined Heat and Power (CHP).

TN709 RHI Sustainability
- Non Woody Biomass

This technical note is aimed at those RHI installations directly burning non-woody biomass such as straw, Miscanthus, palm kernel pellets etc. rather than using non-woody biomass to produce biogas.

Conservation & Biodiversity

TN686 Conservation Grazing for
Semi-Natural Habitats

This technical note provides
guidance on developing grazing plans for a range of habitats in
Scotland.

TN687 Managing Arable
Farmland for Biodiversity

Here we look at how to mitigate the negative effects of modern, intensive arable farming on
biodiversity.

TN688 Management and
Conservation for
Farmland Waders

Five wading bird species (Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Curlew, Redshank and Snipe) are among the highest wildlife conservation priorities on Scottish farmland

TN697 Invasive plant species: Japanese
Knotweed, Himalayan Balsam, Giant Hogweed and Skunk Cabbage

Invasive species can be plants, animals or insects. This technical note concentrates on the following invasive species which are currently expanding their Scottish range.

TN700 Bumblebees and the Importance of Pollination

This technical note explains the importance of bumblebees, their requirements and how farmers can help support bees.

TN705 Management of
Wetlands for Wildlife

Wetlands cover large areas of Scotland where poorly draining soils, high rainfall and low temperatures create permanently or frequently waterlogged areas.

TN711 Black Grouse Management On Farmland

Black grouse are found in upland areas of Britain, from Wales to Northern Scotland

TN712 Land Management for Butterflies

This Technical Note provides guidance on best practice land management to support and encourage butterflies and their habitats.

TN721 Soil Biodiversity

Soil biodiversity is the variety of living organisms within a soil. A healthy soil will contain a large number and variety of organisms (i.e. have a high biodiversity) which will interact to provide a wide variety of ecosystem services.

TN722 Identification
of Moorland Habitats

Moorland is a term used for a range of habitats, found generally in Upland and hill areas which is dominated by low growing vegetation. In order to manage moorland effectively, you should first understand its individual parts.

TN724 Minimising Plastic Waste on farms

The ban on burning waste plastic on farm came into effect on 1st January 2019, which is forcing farmers and crofters to seek other ways to dispose of their waste plastics.

TN738 Hedges - Carbon, Conservation, And Compliance

When it comes to hedges it is important to remember the three Cs: Carbon, Conservation & Compliance.
Hedges dominate the farmed landscape of many parts of
Scotland

TN742 Predator Control
for Conservation

Predator control is a long-established part of rural land management in Scotland, primarily for the protection of game and
livestock.

Technical Notes

Soils Information, Texture & Liming Recommendations - TN656

TN699: Agricultural use of biosolids composts anaerobic digestates and other industrial organic fertilisers

Liming Materials & Recommendations - TN714

Phosphate & Potash Recommendations: Highlands & Islands - TN715

Phosphate & Potash Recommendations: SW Scotland - TN716

Phosphate & Potash Recommendations: NE Scotland & Tayside - TN717

Phosphate & Potash Recommendations: Fife, Lothian & Scottish Borders - TN718

Fertiliser Recommendations For Grassland - TN726

Nitrogren Recommendations For Cereals, Oilseed Rape, And Potatoes - TN 731

Fertiliser Recommendations For Vegetables, Minority Arable Crops And Bulbs - TN734

Optimising The Applications Of Livestock Farmyard Manures And Slurries: TN736

Technical note (TN740): Fertiliser recommendations for soft fruit and rhubarb crops

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