Soil Nutrient Status

Soil Summary 2014 – 2015In our 7th annual soil summary we have once again, using soil samples submitted between June 2014 and May 2015, summarised data according to the crop categories and nutrient levels specified in the 8th Edition of the fertiliser manual RB209. Also included in this year’s data summary is the trend in mean P, K, Mg levels which now contains 20 years’ worth of historic data.

Conclusions should be drawn cautiously as this data was not necessarily representative of all UK fields and data collations were not statistically rigorous.

Arab

le a

nd

Fora

ge S

oils

Index 2 > Index 2 < Index 2

Phosphorus 30% of soils at target value

30%

21%

49%

Index 2- > Index 2- < Index 2-

Potassium 35% of soils at target value

35%

32%

33%

Index 2 > Index 2 < Index 2

Magnesium 43% of soils at target value

43%

20%

37%

Gra

ssla

nd

Index 2 > Index 2 < Index 2

Phosphorus 30% of soils at target value

30%

28%

42%

Index 2- > Index 2- < Index 2-

Potassium 28% of soils at target value

28%

43%

29%

Index 2 > Index 2 < Index 2

Magnesium 32% of soils at target value

32%

8%60%

Vege

tabl

e an

d B

ulb

Soils

Index 3 > Index 3 < Index 3

Phosphorus 31% of soils at target value

31%

44%

25%

Index 2+ > Index 2+ < Index 2+

Potassium 17% of soils at target value

17%

64%

19%

Index 2 > Index 2 < Index 2

Magnesium 44% of soils at target value

44%

16%

40%

Frui

t, Vi

nes

and

H

ops

Soils

Index 2 > Index 2 < Index 2

Phosphorus 13% of soils at target value

13%

9%

78%

Index 2 > Index 2 < Index 2

Potassium 46% of soils at target value

46%

13%

41%

Index 2 > Index 2 < Index 2

Magnesium 29% of soils at target value

29%

4%67%

Sciantec Analytical, NRM Laboratories and Sci-Tech Laboratories are divisions of Cawood Scientific Ltd

Trends in pH, P, K, & Mg 1994 – 2015:

5.0

5.5

6.0

6.5

7.0

7.5

14/1

513

/14

12/1

311

/12

10/1

109

/10

08/0

907

/08

06/0

705

/06

04/0

503

/04

02/0

301

/02

00/0

199

/00

98/9

997

/98

96/9

795

/96

94/9

5

15

17

19

21

23

25

27

29

31

33

35

14/1

513

/14

12/1

311

/12

10/1

109

/10

08/0

907

/08

06/0

705

/06

04/0

503

/04

02/0

301

/02

00/0

199

/00

98/9

997

/98

96/9

795

/96

94/9

560

80

100

120

140

160

180

14/1

513

/14

12/1

311

/12

10/1

109

/10

08/0

907

/08

06/0

705

/06

04/0

503

/04

02/0

301

/02

00/0

199

/00

98/9

997

/98

96/9

795

/96

94/9

5

100

110

120

130

140

150

160

170

180

190

200

14/1

513

/14

12/1

311

/12

10/1

109

/10

08/0

907

/08

06/0

705

/06

04/0

503

/04

02/0

301

/02

00/0

199

/00

98/9

997

/98

96/9

795

/96

94/9

5

Trend in mean soil pH

pH

Year

Trend in mean soil P

mg/

l

Year

Trend in mean soil Mg

mg/

l

Year

Trend in mean soil K

mg/

l

Year

GrassArable

2015 is the International Year of Soils (IYS)President Roosevelt once said “A nation that destroys its soil destroys itself”. He was talking of course following the crisis in the US where the erosion of soil led to dustbowls and effectively resulted in 100,000,000 acres of land being stripped of its topsoil. However this statement is just as relevant today as some scientists are suggesting that at the current rate of soil degradation we only have around 60 years of topsoil left!

You may or may not be aware that 2015 has been declared by the UN General Assembly as the International Year of Soils (IYS).

The objectives of the IYS include raising awareness of the profound importance of soil for human life and the crucial role it plays in food security, climate change adaptation and mitigation, poverty alleviation and sustainable development. Other key objectives are to promote investment in sustainable soil management activities, to develop and maintain healthy soils and advocate rapid capacity enhancement for soil information collection and monitoring at all levels.

This promotion has even reached the Hollywood elite with the actress Julia Roberts becoming the latest ‘Soilebrity’ in the Save Our Soils campaign.

© Nature & More 2015

NRM as the largest independent agricultural soil testing laboratory within Europe plays a key role in the drive to improve the health of our soils. Last year we launched our Soil Health service and are currently developing our analytical portfolio to provide further information about the biology in the soil which is critical to its overall health.

Look out for further updates in the future regarding the expansion of our Soil Health service.

NRM Coopers Bridge, Braziers Lane, Bracknell, Berkshire RG42 6NS

Tel: +44 (0) 1344 886338 Fax: +44 (0) 1344 890972 Email: enquiries@nrm.uk.com www.nrm.uk.com

NRM Laboratories is a division of Cawood Scientific Ltd, Coopers Bridge, Braziers Lane, Bracknell, Berkshire RG42 6NS

Registered Number: 05655711

REPORTReport No.

Sample No.

Sample Ref.

Date Received:

Cropping:

Field Area:

Date Reported:

Farm Details: Client:U 49

35102

254467

BIG FIELD

Winter Wheat into Spring Oats

44 Ha

29/05/201404/03/2015

A FARMERBARN FARMSTONEY LANESOIL

ANALYSED BY COURTESY OFNRM LIMITEDCOOPERS BRIDGEBRAZIERS LANEBRACKNELLBERKSHIRE RG42 6NS

Soil Chemical AnalysisIndex ResultP

KMg

Organic Matter (LOI)

Soil pH

Low Marginal Target Marginal High

1 10.3 mg/l 1 69.5 mg/l 2 77.0 mg/l

1.2%

6.6Very Acid Acid Neutral Alkali Very Alkali

Where no future crop code has been given, levels are calculated assuming an arable crop. If general fertiliser and lime recommendations have been requested, these are given on the following sheets.

The analytical methods used are as described in DEFRA Reference Book 427. The index values are determined from the DEFRA Fertiliser Recommendations RD209 8th Edition (Appendix 4).

Microbial Activity

Index ResultCO Burst2 Very Low Low Moderate-Low Moderate High

2.2 15 mg/kgPotential N Mineralisation (kg/ha/yr) - Based on CO Burst2Very Low (<15) Low (15-25)

Moderate-Low (25-45) Moderate (45-75) High (75-105)

Textural Classification

Heavy Soil

Medium Soil

Light Soil

Breakdown: 20% 60% 20%Soil TexturalClass:Major Soil Classification:Slope:

Sand Silt ClayClay Loam

Medium

3 o

Water Erosion RiskKey:

Slo

pe

> 73-72-3< 2

o

o

o

o

Very HighHighModerateLowerLight Medium Heavy

Sand Loamysand

Sandy loam

Sandy clay loam

Sandyclay

Clay

Siltyclay

Clay loam Silty clayloam

Sandy silt loam Silt loam

Perc

ent c

lay

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Percent sand

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Percent silt

1020

3040

5060

7080

9010

0

Soil Health Index - Based on soil chemical, physical and biological results.1.50

12

34

5Very Low

LowModerate-Low

ModerateHigh

For more information on the Soil Health package or to get a quote please contact us on 01344 886338 or by email at enquiries@nrm.uk.com

NRM Laboratories Coopers Bridge, Braziers Lane, Bracknell, Berkshire RG42 6NS Tel: 01344 886 338 Fax: 01344 890 972

Email: enquiries@nrm.uk.com www.nrm.uk.comSciantec Analytical, NRM Laboratories and Sci-Tech Laboratories are divisions of Cawood Scientific Ltd

Did you know?Below are some interesting facts about soil that perhaps you may not be aware of;

• 95% of our food is either directly or indirectly produced in soil

• There are more organisms in one tablespoon of healthy soil than there are people on Earth

• By 2050 agricultural production must increase by 60% globally (and 100% in developing countries) in order to meet the demand for food

• It can take up to 1,000 years to form one centimetre of soil

• 11ha of soils are sealed under expanding cities every hour in Europe

• Soil scientists have identified over 10,000 different types of soil in Europe.