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Soil Structure & Compaction

Damage to soil structure reduces profit margins.

The structure is the how the particles bind together to form aggregates that allows:

  • Roots to anchor the plant

  • Water to drain through pores and cracks

  • Water retention

  • Air to roots for favourable gas exchange

  • Mineralisation of nutrients and release to crop roots

  • Biodiversity of microbes

Assessing your soil structure takes only a few minutes of your time, a spade and a copy of the Visual Evaluation of Soil Structure score sheet.

Field and seedlings

Soil Assessment & Evaulation

Visual Evaluation of Soil Structure (VESS)

Step-By-Step Guide to Soil Structure Assessment

Healthy Grassland Soils - Four Quick Steps to Assess Soil Structure

A Guide to the Visual Evaluation of Soil Structure (VESS)

Dr. Bill Crooks, a soils and drainage expert is on a farm to demonstrate how to undertake a Visual Examination of Soil Structure (VESS). In this video, he is in a grassland field that is due to be ploughed and planted in crop as part of the rotation but not before time as can be seen by the VESS. Dr. Crooks then moves into a neighbouring grassland field to compare the soil structure with the first field, again using a VESS. Watch here >>

VESS

Watch our short video for a brief introduction on VESS, the Visual Evaluation of Soil Structure tool. Watch here >>

Soil Compaction

Soil compaction can negatively affect productivity, as the condensed mass reduces the soil's ability to hold water, circulate air and support crop growth. Our resources below can help you identify and alleviate soil compaction. Click our links for more information:

 

Tackling Soil Compaction to Reduce Fertiliser Costs

Soil Compaction and Grassland Yield Loss

Soil Compaction and Silage Production

Identifying Compaction in Your Fields

In this video, Gavin Elrick, Soils & drainage expert, gives us his recommendations for how you can identify the problem of soil compaction in your fields. Watch here >>

Options for Relieving Compaction

Whilst Soils & drainage expert, Gavin Elrick explains the mechanical options farmers can use to alleviate compaction, Paul Chapman, a biodiversity specialist, explains how SRDP funding may help with the use of green manures which can also help to break up compaction pans. Watch here >>

Using Soil Pits to Fight Compaction

This video highlights how soil pits can help to identify compaction and give valuable information on the solution.  Watch here >>

Using Sward Lifters to Alleviate Compaction

Seamus Donnelly, an agricultural consultant who specialises in soils and compaction, was a key speaker at a meeting on Arran focussing on managing water and drainage on the farm. In this video, Seamus discusses the use of sward lifters as a management tool to help alleviate soil compaction, but he stresses the importance of knowing where your problems are within your soil profile before use.  Watch here >>

Read our Technical Note on how to use a sward lifter to alleviate grassland compaction

Soil Impacts from Harvesting in Wet Conditions

This examines the impacts of harvesting in wet conditions.  Watch here >>

What a Dry Summer Can Tell Us About Our Fields

Gavin Elrick, Soil and drainage expert, has some top tips to improve your soils following the dry summer weather.  Watch here >>

Further Information

Valuing Your Soils - Practical Guidance for Scottish Farmers

Scotland's Soils

Technical Note (TN656): Soils Information, Texture and Liming Recommendations

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