Why soil analysis should be in your plan this autumn

The first thing we need to look at is soil fertility and structure and now is the time to take a soil sample before the main cereal planting gets underway. Soil analysis gives you a basis for planning the fertilizer programme for the season ahead but also for the correction of low pH soils through the application of agricultural lime. 

Your soil analysis results often give strong clues to the previous year’s crop performance and of surprise on how indices may have dropped. This may well be the case this year following a very good 2015 harvest where last season’s fertilizer applications were not sufficient to replace those nutrients removed in 2015. A yearly soil analysis is not a luxury but a necessity for planning the year ahead, it may not reduce your fertilizer costs but it enables you to target application to areas of higher yield potential. 

Has poor soil structure and/or biology affected the previous year’s yield? Investigating the physical aspects requires time but is rewarding as we can see with our own eyes at what depth compaction and compression is present at but also the frequency at which earthworms and other soil fauna can be found. If soil conditions are dry then now is the time to tackle compaction mechanically however improving biological activity might start with the addition of organic matter. 

Find more information on soil analysis from Yara.