The aim of this research area is to assess how sustainable management affects crop productivity and yield quality, and to determine whether any reduction in yield is offset by savings on agrochemical inputs.

A key component of this research will be to investigate the effect of management change on yield quality, including both flavour and nutritional compounds. This will be assessed by determination of key quality parameters for example, potato dry matter, wheat and barley protein content. Plant stress responses will be assessed by direct measurement of antioxidant levels (for example, ascorbate and glutathione) and enzymes.

Other measurements will include biomass accumulation of crop and weed vegetation, crop development, physiology and total yield. Comparisons will be made across different crop varieties grown under the two management systems.