Applying gypsum in liquid form could prove particularly beneficial in relieving soil compaction ahead of the autumn sowing programme. It’s been a tough season for soils. Many fields were drilled in less-than-ideal conditions, often after abandoned earlier attempts at cultivation that left soils prone to slumping, while others were left bare fallow which has done …
Written by Christoph Felgentreu, Deutsche Saatveredelung AG · Bückwitz Deeptill Radish (Raphanus sativus), also known as “melioration radish” is a plant breeding innovation. The focus was on a strong rooting performance to combat soil compaction during the crucifera selection process. The aim of the breeding was to select a strong, aggressively downwards growing root. It …
Written by John Dobberstein from No-Till Farmer USA and originally published in July 2018 From interseeding to relay cropping to ‘engineering by inventory,’ Loran Steinlage is building a profitable, divergent no-till operation Several years ago, a trip with friends to look at greenhouses led Loran Steinlage to a Mennonite farm. It was there that he …
A healthy soil is vital to ensure both high yields and future high yields, as well as environmental protection – there are no negative consequences on the ecosystem from having a healthy soil! But what is a healthy soil? Soil health can be defined as a soil’s ability to function and sustain plants, animals and …
Written by James Warne, Soil First Farming Social media can be a useful source and tool for knowledge transfer, discussion around various topics etc. But far too often it can also be the source of misinformation or confirmation of prejudice, particularly where the discussion deviates from received wisdom. I am referring here to agriculturally based …
by Nick Woodyatt, Soil Fertility Consultant at Aiva Fertiliser Normally when starting an article there is much gnashing of teeth and wandering around the garden, or pub in my case, deciding on how to help and enlighten our industry (hopefully). But seeing as it did not stop raining during the autumn/winter, on this occasion the …
Compelling reasons to take a good look at Mg levels in your soils and methods of raising themWritten by Jon Williams from thesoilexpert.co.uk The result of over 700 detailed soil samples in West Wales has consistently shown a shortage of magnesium with 70 per cent of the soils depleted on the clay colloid and 48 …
The challenge for UK agriculture is to build a sustainable and profitable future under a changing support structure, and restoring soil health to vast acreages of farmland will be key. That’s certainly the view of Rob and Jo Hodgkins, who as educated selfstarters in the farming industry have experienced first-hand the damage reeked over recent …
18 months ago, it came to our attention that a new revised soil management and cultivation guide was needed for the UK. The last comprehensive guide on soil structure was produced in 2001 by National Soil Resources Institute. The remit was challenging. • It had to work for all farmer and land managers, engaged in …
Written by Natallia Gulbis, Technical and Arable Farming Lead at PlantWorks Ltd According to the European Biostimulants Industry Council, a biostimulant is a material that contains substances and/or micro-organisms whose function, when applied to plants or the rhizosphere, is to stimulate natural processes to enhance/ benefit nutrient uptake, nutrient efficiency, tolerance to environmental stress and …
