Healthy soil underpins productive, profitable, and sustainable farming systems. In an increasingly uncertain climate, good soil health helps reduce input costs while supporting consistent crop and grassland performance. Every field should be assessed individually, with attention given to soil fertility, soil structure, and soil biology.
Understanding how your soils function allows better management decisions and helps maximise the return from fertiliser, seed, and machinery investments.
Soil Sampling and Nutrient Management
Soil sampling provides essential information on nutrient status and highlights any deficiencies that may be limiting yield or forage quality. Accurate soil analysis allows fertiliser and manure applications to be planned correctly, ensuring nutrients are applied where they are needed and at the right rates.
Sampling can be carried out at most times of the year, although it should be avoided for at least two months after compound fertiliser or organic manure applications. It is a straightforward and cost effective process that delivers long term benefits.
A representative sample should be collected from each field, typically using around 25 cores taken in a W pattern. Key nutrients including pH, phosphate, potash, magnesium, and calcium should be maintained at target levels, with corrective action taken where results indicate a shortfall.
Soil Structure and Compaction
Soil structure has a major influence on root development, drainage, and nutrient availability. One of the simplest ways to assess soil condition is by digging a small pit and examining the soil profile. This can quickly reveal compaction layers, poor rooting, or drainage problems.
Poor soil structure leads to reduced yields, higher cultivation costs, and inefficient nutrient use. Healthy soils should contain approximately ten earthworms per cubic foot. Low worm numbers often indicate problems with structure, aeration, or organic matter.
Well structured soils with good drainage are better able to cope with periods of heavy rainfall or drought. Understanding soil texture and how it varies across the farm helps ensure management practices suit the land.
Preventing and Alleviating Compaction
Preventing compaction is always preferable to correcting it. Machinery weight should be kept to the minimum required for the task, with tyre pressures reduced where safe to do so.
Grazing pressure should be managed carefully, particularly during wetter conditions when soils are most vulnerable. Reducing stocking density at these times can help protect soil structure and long term productivity.
Where compaction is present, remedial action should be targeted to the depth of the problem using appropriate equipment. Unnecessary or poorly timed cultivation can cause further damage.
Soil Biology and Management Choices
Soil biology plays a central role in nutrient cycling, soil structure, and organic matter breakdown. Management decisions should aim to protect and encourage soil life wherever possible.
Ploughing remains suitable in certain situations, but reduced cultivation systems such as direct drilling can often achieve similar outcomes with less disturbance, lower fuel use, and reduced impact on soil biology.
Including a wider range of species within swards, such as herbs and deeper rooting grasses, can improve soil structure and resilience. Green manures and cover crops are also valuable tools within rotations, helping to feed soil organisms and improve soil condition.
The Benefits of Healthy Soils
A healthy, well functioning soil is the foundation of productive grassland and arable systems. Through regular soil sampling, careful field assessment, and thoughtful management, soils can be improved over time.
The benefits include improved fertiliser efficiency, better drainage, increased water retention, enhanced carbon storage, reduced cultivation requirements, improved nutrient availability, and a more resilient and profitable farming business.
