Trust your senses when it comes to soil health
Farmers should be relying on their senses to grow sustainable crops for the future. That was my key message when I spoke at QLF Agronomy’s soils event.
Don't rely on just traditional methods to measure soil health. It’s not all about science, you can tell a lot by using your senses.
There’s no substitute for feeling the texture, looking at and smelling your soils. They’re a living system home to trillions of organisms.
Producers should be ensuring that they provide soils with the necessary nutrients to maximise the activity of soil organisms. This is the fundamental principle of biological farming. The ultimate goal for the industry should be to increase food production using less inputs.
But for crops to reach their full genetic potential, producers need to concentrate on balancing soil minerals and ensuring they’re working with nature. Biology has the answer to unlocking the true value of our soils and the true measure of soil health is its capacity to function without intervention.
I recommend that farmers assess soils using a range of methods, including tissue testing, soil sampling using the standard P, K, Mg and pH test, as well as testing for macro and micro-nutrients, such as Boron and Manganese, which are essential for plant development. They also shouldn’t overlook their own instincts.
As an outcome of these tests, it is vital that farmers don’t just concentrate on feeding their crops. Growers should also be feeding their soils by ensuring soil micro-organisms have access to sufficient carbon. This can be supplied by the application of a liquid carbon-based fertiliser.
Tim Parton, farm manager at Brewood Park Farm, Staffordshire, has been farming biologically since 2014. He explains how using a liquid carbon-based fertiliser has enhanced his soil biology to boost crop performance.
“I’ve been applying QLF Agronomy’s liquid carbon-based fertiliser, Boost, in conjunction with a liquid fertiliser for the last 12 months and have found it greatly benefits crops,” says Tim.
Here are my six founding biological principles
1. Test and balance your soils. Feed the crop a balanced and supplemented diet
2. Use fertilisers that do the least damage to soil life and plant roots
3. Apply pesticides and herbicides responsibly while relying on customised management practices to reach maximum genetic potential
4. Create maximum plant diversity by using green manure crops and varied rotations
5. Manage the decay of organic materials and the balance of soil, air and water
6. Feed the soil using carbon from compost, green manures, livestock manures and crop residue
Gary Zimmer in an international biological farming expert