Lewis & Harris Soil & Nutrient Network 2nd Meeting – Event Summary

Grassland management

The meeting opened with Gavin Elrick, SAC Consulting’s soils & drainage expert giving an engaging presentation about the soil nutrients required for efficient grassland growth.  You can read Gavin’s presentation slides for more information.

An enthusiastic group of 13 met at this second event of the Lewis & Harris SNN during September 2017.

Grassland agronomist, David Lawson (SAC Consulting) then led the group with an interesting presentation about soil management for grassland.  A holistic grassland management plan needs to not only include nutritional management of the soil, but also consideration to soil type, structure & biological health.  If problems with soil structure are identified, correct remediation is key to improving the grass yields.  Without good air and water flow through the soil and around the plant roots, the crop cannot effectively uptake any applied nutrients.  Yields will suffer and there will be environmental losses as well as financial.  Correct soil management can increase farm efficiency and reduce carbon output.  Read David’s presentation slides here.

Afternoon croft visits

Following on from the classroom setting the group visited 3 local crofts – one newly reseeded, one four years on from a reseed and one which had been treated with Biosolid sludge. Rob Black, SAC Consulting, had prepared a brief report on each of the crofts as to how they had been prepared and treated.    At each of these parks Gavin performed a check on the soil profile & David discussed the chosen grass varieties & what could be done to improve/diversify such crops for the future.

The meeting concluded with the participants taking full advantage of David and Gavin’s vast experience to ask questions specific to their own requirements.  Handouts available at this event are available to download through the links below.

Key messages from this meeting: .

• Don’t underestimate the importance of lime in your soil to achieve optimal target pH
• Know your soil before undergoing any type of treatment so that accurate and targeted treatments may be applied
• Consider perspective changes to the current challenges & issues facing grassland & soil management in crofting agriculture e.g. utilising Reed Canary Grass in poorly drained areas instead of expensive drainage works
• Assess your soil structure & texture to better understand soil type
• Utilise tools for assessing soil biodiversity and its importance for soil health
• Current target crofts can highlight what is achievable with proper & continued management of the soil and land – use these as a guide to what you can achieve from your land

This was the second of the group meetings of the Lewis & Harris Soil & Nutrient Network.  You can read more about what was discussed during the first meeting earlier in the year here.

There are 12 Soil & Nutrient Network groups across Scotland.  You can find more information about them and read what previous network groups have done at the Farming & Water Scotland webpage.