If you are making use of a patch of land, then soil quality is of vital importance. Soil sampling tells you about everything from acidity to nutrient levels, allowing you to plan how you will treat it.
How to take a soil sample
A soil corer or auger can be used to extract samples, though you need to avoid collecting vegetation at the same time. It is generally best to cross a field in a “W” pattern to ensure a good distribution, with around 25 samples necessary for a reliable result. Depth and frequency depend on field usage.
Types of testing
The most common tests conducted on soil samples are for pH and lime levels, and for the amount of phosphorus, magnesium and potassium, all of which are essential nutrients when growing crops. You can also check soil texture, organic matter, and if there are heavy metals or other contaminants.
Soil sampling requirements
Soil sampling may also be a requirement when seeking membership of certain schemes, such as the Whole Farm Plan, or applying for a grant such as Preparing for Sustainable Farming.
What next?
Acidity, lime levels or deficiency in a certain nutrient may be remedied with the right choice of fertiliser. Contaminated soil may need treatment, alongside groundwater remediation such as that available from //soilfix.co.uk/services/groundwater-remediation. The aim is to create the best possible growing conditions.
Once you understand soil quality, you can decide which crops to plant, or whether you need to intervene to try to increase or decrease certain nutrient levels. This all starts with soil sampling.
Using soil results in a nutrient management plan
Soil test results are the starting point for a nutrient management plan. The available nutrient levels they reveal are used to draw up a budget that matches inputs such as manure and fertiliser to what crops need at each stage of growth, across several rotations.
Applying more than plants can use wastes money and can harm biodiversity, with nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment lost from the land and groundwater put at risk. A plan based on real test data makes the best use of every nutrient source while keeping those risks down.
Drawing up and following a plan takes time and some cost, but the return comes through more efficient yields and a smaller environmental footprint. Regular soil and manure testing, along with enhanced efficiency fertilisers, keeps the plan accurate. It also sits well alongside a farm conservation plan and makes it easier to show that environmental standards and water quality obligations are being met.