Soil

Planting of crops directly (no tillage) in preceeding cover crop (living or destroyed, i.e. mulched) or crop residues

Erosion prevention strips (Contour buffer strips) are strips of grass or a mixture of grasses and legumes that run along the contour of a farmed field. They alternate down the slope of a field with wider cropped strips.

Use of only superficial tillage without soil inversion. Reduced tillage is every type of cultivation without inverting soil and when 30 % of its surface is covered with crop residue.

Nutrient management plans (NMPs) are used to help farmers efficiently meet their production objectives and protect the environment. Plans provide balanced recommendations for farmers on which nutrient sources to apply and what rates they should be applied at. Use of innovative approaches to minimise nutrient release, optimal pH for nutrient uptake, circular agriculture.

Appropriate management of farming residues involves making use of the crops and animal products left over after harvest or slaughter. Strategies for managing these residues may include composting, burning, mulching or using them as animal feed. Proper management of these residues is important to ensure that the land is properly managed, soil fertility is maintained, and the environment is protected from pollution. e.g., seeding on residues.

Nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous are essential for crop production. This is an agricultural practice in which farmers reduce or eliminate the use of synthetic fertilisers on their arable crops. This practice helps to conserve natural resources and reduce pollution, as it reduces the amount of artificial chemicals and pollutants that are released into the environment. It also has the potential to increase the sustainability of agriculture, as it reduces the cost of inputs and increases the profitability of farming.

Semi-natural habitats are integral to most agricultural areas and have the potential to support ecosystem services, especially biological control and pollination by supplying resources for the invertebrates providing these services and for soil conservation by preventing erosion and run-off.

Fallow land is all arable land either included in the crop rotation system or maintained in good agricultural and environmental condition (GAEC), whether worked or not, but which will not be harvested for the duration of a crop year. The essential characteristic of fallow land is that it is left to recover, normally for the whole of a crop year.

This refers to an agricultural system in which trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants are grown with grazed animals. This type of system is designed to maximize the biodiversity of an area, often by creating a synergistic relationship between the plants and animals that provide a variety of ecological services and resources. High-biodiversity silvopastoral systems aim to create a sustainable, productive, and diverse agricultural system for both humans and wildlife.

Planting landscape elements in farming refers to the practice of strategically planting vegetation and trees on or around agricultural land to provide a variety of benefits. These elements can include trees and shrubs that can help to provide windbreaks, shade, and provide natural habitat for wildlife. Additionally, planting landscape elements can help reduce soil erosion, help protect soil and water resources, and provide a more efficient use of land.