While spring brings a renewed sense of vitality to the soil, it also presents challenges, particularly following the level of rainfall seen in the UK this winter. Wet, compacted soils can impede the growth and development of crops, exerting a   cascade of effects that ripple through the soil ecosystem and impact potential yields.
After a wet winter, Steve Holloway, Soil Fertility Specialist with Soil Fertility Services, considers what can be done to breathe new life into sad soils. When soils sit wet over extended periods consequences can arise, including the development of anaerobic conditions in the soil. This is because water-logged soils lack sufficient oxygen supplies to allow …
Written by Steve Holloway from Soil First Farming Soil microbes are tiny, often invisible to the naked eye. Organisms that play a crucial role in maintaining soil health and enhancing crop productivity. These microscopic creatures are responsible for numerous functions, including nutrient cycling, decomposition, and the suppression of plant diseases. They also contribute to soil …
Written by Steve Hollaway, Soil Fertility Services Ask anyone to define healthy soil and you will get a multitude of varying replies that will probably include having a good number of worms; friable soil with a texture that’s similar to chocolate cake; unhindered vigorous crop rooting and so on… But, have you considered what must …
Written by Steve Holloway from Soil Fertility Services Ltd A soil test will give you numbers and guidelines of where your soil is and hopefully where it should aim for to consider it ‘balanced’ (note I didn’t say healthy); remember that it’s NOT an N-P-K world. Sensible soil nutrition is the first step toward higher …
