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Peebleshire Soil & Nutrient Network – third meeting event summary

22 August 2017

The Value of Effective Nutrient Budgeting Farming & Water Scotland

The third meeting of the Peeblesshire soil & nutrient network farm was held at Wormiston Farm, Peebles & focused on the final nutrient budget review and the savings generatedPeebleshire SNN meeting - people inside a machinery shed;  silage analysis and the relationship to nutrient budgeting, as well as soil health & structure and methods of how to assess these.  Those attending were shown the importance of analysing manures and slurries, in addition to soil analysis, in order to create an accurate nutrient budgeting plan suited to the farm.

Craig Bothwell demonstrated how the nutrient applications had been altered to suit the soil anaylsis and ultimately made savings through efficient nutrient budgeting.

Chris McDonald gave a short presentation on silage analysis and how crop offtake links into the nutrient budgeting. The key message here was not to underestimate the quantity of potash offtake in silage making.  

Paul Hargreaves then held a practical demonstration of the VESS guide to assess soil structure highlighted the negative effect compacted soil structure has on a crop through low nutrient uptake, poor drainage and crop yield. The visual assessment allows a simple method for assessing potential damage and consequential corrective management.


Read presentations from this event here and handouts available on the day are available to download below.  A summary from the previous Peebleshire SNN meeting is available to read here.

Related Downloads
Technical Note (TN656): Soil Information, Texture & Liming Recommendations
• Web based access to information on your soils on your farm is described. • Soil texture classes of mineral soils are described and identified by hand texturing. • Liming recommendations for different soils and managements are tabulated.
Topics: Soils
Interpretation of Soil Analysis Results
Assess your soils
Know your soils
Valuing Your Soils – Practical Guidance for Scottish Farmers
This brochure includes useful information about Scotland's agricultural soils and practical advice outlining the upfront financial savings and business benefits of better soil management and the efficient use of resources. Action and problem-specific 'field-sheets' are designed for busy farmers with limited time for reading.
Topics: Climate Change, Soils, Water Management and Crops and Soils
Paul Hargreaves discussing VESS and soil compaction as a result of silage making

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