Sabbatical Fallowing   (Sheet Composting)

You can substitute organic inputs  for conventional inputs, for example use Organic RPR fertiliser, instead of using Super phosphate fertiliser or garlic/cider vinegar drench instead of chemical drench.

However we wanted to move into a truly sustainable Organic farm  system which wasn't dependant on Imported fertilisers of any kind, or buying in inputs. so we trialled sabbatical  pastoral fallowing (sheet composting) on 90 acres from 1988 (In 1993 Invermay scientific research survey on this block showed we had  the best soil structure and root density and root depth in the research survey of 19 farms with the same soil type). that was very encouraging, so we continued sabbatical fallowing And are now in our 20th Year and next year we will finished our 3rd 7 year rotation. looking back we should have used the system on the whole farm earlier (503 Hectares). We are now on our 11th year on the whole farm, so its the 4th year of our second 7 year  rotation of  the farm. Sabbatical fallowing is written about in the Bible, Koran, Torah and other historical documents as the main method  used thousands of years ago to retain and build up fertility in soils. Its still very popular in many parts of the world  & is used in many countries changing over to organics.

The method entails each year shutting up a different 7th of your farm from Spring  right through to late winter / early spring when it can be trampled and  eaten off.

The paddocks grow up to an outsiders eye like an untidy, uncut, Hay paddock, then composts and decomposes, its about 11 tonne a hectare of organic compost that feeds the worms and increases microbial activity, improves soil structure, increases soil aeration, drainage & water holding capacity. The Pastures root density & depth of penetration is improved. Due to additional food supplies earthworm numbers increase which enhances the rate of nutrient cycling. We have observed much larger numbers of earthworms high up in the soil feeding during very heavy frosts. We have found Sabbatical fallowing  enhances trace elements and  fertility, increases nitrogen accumulation and conservation,  gives a new covering of seeds and organic matter and gives the paddocks a rest too ! "You end up with a rich, biologically active, deep humus layer over the blocks." It gives you a HUGE feed bank of standing hay for the winter. The paddocks perform much better in Droughts and drain better in wet conditions.