Caithness Soil & Nutrient Network Final Meeting – Event summary

This was the final of 3 visits to the Knockglass Soil & Nutrient Network Farm. 

With the recent wet weather Gavin Elrick, soils & drainage expert  gave a very apt talk on soil drainage and compaction.

Gavin looked at four areas, soil texture, soil structure, soil compaction and soil drainage- natural and installed.  He reminded those who attended that soil structure is affected by management but highlighted methods of how you could improve it.  He also discussed the benefits of good drainage, how to recognise poor drainage and gave solutions to rectify problems. Read Gavin’s presentation slides.

Later in the afternoon Bill Crooks, soil scientist, explained how the pH of your soil can affect soil nutrient availablity and therefore the crop growth.  Bill gave an interesting presentation on the benefits of grid pH sampling and how this can be more beneficial to the farm business than the standard ‘W’ shaped soil sampling technique.  Information from Bill’s presentation is available here.

Key points from the event:

Good soil structure:

• Improves aeration and reduces waterlogging
• Reduces compaction
• Reduces drought risk

Main reasons for compaction:

• Working/cultivation/grazing in wet conditions
• Over-cultivation
• Continuous cultivation
• Heavy machinery
• Over-grazing

Drainage is important for:

• Improved crop and grass yields
• Improved animal health

Maintain drains on a regular basis,  improve drains by:

• Identifying problems
• Prepare a plan
• Record the work carried out (for the future)

pH of Soil

• Crops differ in their sensitivity to soil acidity

Availability of nutrients is affected by the pH of the soil

• Low pH
• Phosphorus (poorer availability below 6 )
• Calcium (poorer availability below 6)
• Sulphur (poorer availability below 5.5)
• Potassium (poorer availability below 5.5)
• Aluminium problems (below 5.5)

Ph varies for 3 main reasons

• Old field boundaries
• Soil texture
• Previous lime application

Related information is available to download through the links below.

Knockglass farm is one of the 12 host farms for the Soil & Nutrient Network.  You can read more about Knockglass Farm in the Case Study, and learn more about previous host farmers from the Farming & Water Scotland webpage.