WIREDGOV

A study of soils sampled from farms across the South West of England has produced results that could help the region’s farmers increase yields and provide environmental benefits, Natural England’s Soils for Profit (S4P) Project Team announced yesterday.

The results give an invaluable insight into the nutrient status of soils across the South West, providing vital pointers to ways that farmers could further improve their productivity and also enhance their local environment.  The sampling was funded by Natural England’s Soils for Profit project with more than 1,680 soil samples collected from 338 farms over an eleven month period.  The analysis has already helped to improve the technical advice that is provided free of charge during farm visits made by the S4P team.

One of the most important findings is that 45% of the soil samples had a pH value below optimum, meaning that the fields from which the samples were taken cannot be meeting their full potential and the effectiveness of fertilisers will be limited.  A low soil pH can be detrimental to crops, restricting growth and development and impacting on yields. It can also have wider impacts on the structure of the soil and its nutrient balance Note 1.

Another key finding was that phosphate (P) and potassium (K) levels are low.  Of the arable soils sampled, 27.6% had phosphate (P) levels and 20% potassium (K) levels below the target level.  For grassland soil samples, the corresponding figures are 48.9% and 38% below the target index  This suggests that care needs to be taken in the application of fertilisers and manures to keep nutrient levels in line with cropping requirements and reduce the risk of wider environmental impacts.

The study also revealed low levels of soil organic matter on many farms, particularly in arable systems, which could be contributing to an increased risk of soil erosion Note 2.

Geoff Sansome, Natural England’s Director of Land Management for the south of England, said: “Soil testing and nutrient balance is one of the basic building blocks of good agronomy. Considering that fertilisers typically represent around 30% of the variable costs of crop and forage production, soil testing is a cheap and effective management tool and is vital for accurately planning nutrient use.  Soil analysis provides the kind of practical evidence that farmers need when making important business decisions.  This in turn helps save money on expensive inputs and contributes to the protection of the wider environment.”

The Soils for Profit (S4P) project provides free on-farm advice and training to help farmers in South West England to manage their soils, manures and nutrients more efficiently.  The service includes a free analysis of five soil samples for farmers who haven’t previously received an S4P advisory visit, which can be used to inform the on-farm advice.

Geoff added:  “What these findings all demonstrate is the importance of careful nutrient planning in maintaining soil productivity and producing optimum crop and forage yields.  Nutrient applications should be based on a reliable nutrient plan and up-to-date soil testing results. Last year's high levels of rainfall and the increased offtake of cereal straw for fodder and bedding are just two things which can have a large impact on soil nutrient and pH levels. These results are a timely reminder to keep an eye on fundamental agronomy requirements.”

Since it was launched in October 2009, more than 2,000 farmers - who between them manage more than 400,000 hectares of land across the South West - have benefited from farm-specific advice funded through the S4P project.

For further information about the Soils for Profit Project in South West England or to arrange a free on-farm advisory visit, please call 0300 060 1244.  The team can also provide practical suggestions about other sources of support and grant aid, such as Defra’s Farming & Forestry Improvement Scheme (FFIS) and the Catchment Sensitive Farming  capital grant scheme.

Additional notes:

1. A low soil pH can be corrected by applying lime. This can have multiple benefits:
   
   It improves crop development, leading to better quality crops and higher yields;
   It improves the soil’s uptake of nutrients, requiring the application of fewer inputs, thus helping farmers to save money and reducing losses to the environment;
   It can also lead to increased bacterial activity in the soil, improving soil structure

2. Low levels of soil organic matter can lead to an increased risk of soil erosion.  Long-term and targeted use of organic manures and the integration of green manures and cover crops into arable rotations can all help tackle the problem.

3. The study was conducted by Natural England’s Soils for Profit (S4P) Project Team in collaboration with the RDPE-funded SWARM Knowledge Hub, and the full results of the survey can be found on their website. 

Soils for Profit Project

The Soils for Profit Project is one element of the South West Agricultural Resource Management (SWARM) initiative, which is managed by The Duchy College’s Rural Business School.  It is currently available to all farming businesses in the region with over five hectares of land (special arrangements were made for the farmers on the Isles of Scilly).  SWARM is designed to help farmers have more profitable and resilient businesses by managing their soils, manures and nutrients more efficiently whilst reducing the impact of their activities on the environment.

For further information (media enquiries only) please contact:

David Hirst, Natural England press officer: david.hirst@naturalengland.org.uk 
Follow us on Twitter: @NaturalEngland