Serving the Farming Industry across the Midlands for 35 Years
Growers are advised to test soils soon after harvest and start putting right damage caused by months of wet weather. Record-breaking rainfall has washed...

Growers are advised to test soils soon after harvest and start putting right damage caused by months of wet weather.

Record-breaking rainfall has washed away nitrogen, phosphorus and other essential nutrients, leaving soil health in tatters. Some soils are also likely to contain worrying levels of contaminants like aluminium that could jeopardise crop quality.

Flooding and waterlogged soils seen across the UK have caused aerobic bacteria to be replaced by anaerobic bacteria – producing gases like methane and nitrous oxide. In some areas, this reduction in oxygen has also reduced earthworm numbers.

Soil tests offer the best opportunity to calculate optimum fertiliser requirements, suggests soil health specialist Shane Brewer, from laboratory group Eurofins Agro. It will help control costs and improve soil health ahead of planting.

Nutrients

“Testing immediately after harvest will help understand how the outgoing crop has taken up nutrients and what is left available to the following crop. This will help to reduce input costs whilst improving plant available nutrients in soil stock.

“It is the best time to ascertain what impact the outgoing crop, and the conditions it has been grown in, have had on soil health. It is vital to understand this to ensure soils can provide plant available nutrients to maximise the subsequent crop’s yield.

Traditional tests that measure nitrogen levels go one step in helping make decisions. But for those looking for greater insight and the potential to manage land with fewer chemicals, a more detailed analysis is crucial.

“Our Fertilisation Manager test provides detailed analysis of common plant available nutrients, macro and micronutrients, the physical, biological and chemical attributes of the soil as well as its carbon properties,” says Mr Brewer

Soil life

While a test of this type will offer significant data to help calibrate inputs, it also offers a way to understand how bacteria and other soil life stand to benefit and thrive if the right nutrients are added.

“Soil Life Monitor is a test that we are seeing greater demand for, especially with farmers looking to become more sustainable by using regenerative farming methods.

“It determines the total microbial biomass, fungi, bacteria and protozoa in soil samples. It also identifies physical characteristics such as acidity and the quality of organic matter.”

Soil Life Monitor uses the phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) method to measure the biological parameters of soil life, says Mr Brewer. Fatty acids present in the cell membranes of living organisms are measured to obtain a fingerprint of soil life.

“This makes it possible to distinguish between fungi and bacteria by measuring the way PLFAs are degraded in soil, which provides a more accurate picture of what soil needs to thrive,” he adds.

Experts on hand at Potatoes in Practice

The future of potato crop production will be a hot topic at Potatoes in Practice (PiP), the industry event on 8 August at Balruddery Farm, Dundee.

Visitors will have the chance to see new potato varieties from plant breeders, agronomists demonstrating advancements in crop protection and researchers on hand to discuss their most recent findings.

Hosted by the James Hutton Institute in partnership with Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and Agrii, the event will include demonstrations, research results, trade exhibits, and knowledge from experts in the field – including a number of commercial companies.

Seminars will be led by experts including Mark Taylor from GB Potatoes, Mike Wilson from the Seed Potato Organisation, Faye Richie from ADAS, Mercedes Torres from B-Hive, and Graham Tomlin from VCS Potatoes.

SRUC senior potato consultant Kyran Maloney said: “Potato production in the UK and Ireland has a strong sustainability and productivity story, but the industry faces unparalleled uncertainty.”

Rising costs, labour shortages and technical challenges meant the need for innovation had seldom been greater, said Mr Maloney. The event would help producers overcome these barriers.

For full details about the event, visit pip.hutton.ac.uk