Trials
Kings is focused on delivering innovation across all our sectors and this starts with our comprehensive trials programme. Our work ranges from full scale formal, replicated trials, through to the investigation of new management concepts on farms and estates across the UK.
Our three-year rotational green cover trial with the James Hutton Institute in Dundee showed significant benefits for spring barley crops that followed green cover crops. In addition, the trial highlighted the role cover crops play in safeguarding natural capital; enhancing nutrition availability and soil strucuture, reducing erosion and improving overall farm biodiversity. With such great results seen in Scotland this knowledge is now transferable across the rest of the UK, with Kings using the findings to support growers who are incorporating cover crops into their own rotations. You can read about the trial and its results in this news story.
Soil Life demonstration sites and 3D Thinking
Kings has plots at all 21 
Frontier 3D (Discovery, Development and Demonstration) sites in the UK, from Muir of Ord in Inverness-shire, to Malshanger in Hampshire. Each site has a range of Kings crops on display to demonstrate the specific interests of each region including green cover, game cover, greening and forage crop options.
Working with host farmers, Frontier's five Soil Life sites are used to research and demonstrate best practice around soil management through a range of measures including no/zero tillage, cover crops and organic manures. Alongside experts from Frontier and SOYL, Kings advisors offer bespoke guidance to the growers involved in partnership with the AHDB, Environment Agency and The Allerton Project.
Field Scale Trials
Working with key growers in a number of sites over the long term, we continue to develop our understanding of green cover crops throughout the rotation, using field scale trials. Areas of focus across the regions include; strip-tillage, direct drilling, crop destruction timing, nutrient capture and cultivation techniques.
Demonstration Farms
We work closely with key sites in Fife, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Buckinghamshire, to reflect the regional and political challenges and variations experienced by our customers.
Our replicated green cover trial at The James Hutton Institute, Dundee
