Measure to manage: the role of lab analysis in regenerative agriculture

Author: Sajjad Awan

26th July 2023

NRM

Agriculture

Environment

Measuring and monitoring through laboratory analysis plays an important role in all farming systems. It enables you to understand the impact of your management and what needs to change. By measuring the practical effects of your efforts, you can see what went well and what needs to be rethought, ultimately helping to improve future productivity and profitability. Analysis also helps increase efficiency in farming practices, minimising waste of expensive inputs and pollution of our environment through runoff and leaching.

Read on to find out more about the crucial role of analysis in regenerative farming, understanding its limitations, some hard and fast rules, participating in incentive schemes, and making the most of your data.

Why should I invest in laboratory analysis?

Not only will measuring and monitoring soil nutrient levels and crop progression help you streamline your system for optimal productivity, but it is also very useful for a variety of other reasons.

Beginning a sustainable farming journey can be intimidating, as it involves changing familiar farming practices and hoping for improved results. Analysis is vital for assessing the benefits of transitioning from one system’s approach to another. It’s part of the benchmarking ethos, so you can see a direction of travel for year-on-year improvement. The benefits of adopting sustainable farming practices are made crystal clear through data, so you can have peace of mind that your actions are not only beneficial to your farming businesses but to the wider world.

Analysis also informs on how we can protect soils to manage the productive landscape by revealing the true picture of their health. The unfortunate truth is that, for the last 30 years, NRM has consistently found that two thirds of most soils in the UK are either under or over supplied in the three key nutrients nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. The recently analysed 2021-2022 data was no different.

Whilst data always highlights regional variations between crop and soil types, the general trends remain. For example, in Cumbria, less than a third of the samples were at the target index for the major nutrients, and less than half of the grassland samples were optimal for pH (see below table for more information and a comparison with Somerset). This type of information is extremely valuable as it enables growers in that area to reflect on current management decisions and creates a basis for change, encouraging the inclusion of more sustainable actions into farming systems.

Percentage of soil samples at target indices

Acting on results can sometimes feel like a leap of faith—particularly when receiving unexpected results. However, it’s critical that advice given by trusted experts is taken to help make the most out of your data. Occasionally, this involves breaking away from current practices, but analysis is there to support management decisions and provide the evidence that interpretation was worthwhile.

Understanding the limitations of analysis

Managing expectations and understanding the limitations of analysis is equally as important as doing the analysis in the first place.

It’s important to remember that it’s not possible to account for every single kilogram in several thousand tonnes of soil every hectare. Whilst appreciating that the soil tests may have a few limitations, they are the best we have at estimating soil supply. It is incredibly important to recognise how the biological and physical aspects of soil influence its chemical functionality and subsequent nutrient availability.

The soil and the soil:plant relationship are dynamic systems, influenced by external factors such as climate and landscape. Essentially, what analysis provides is a snapshot in time and space that can be used to support management decisions and detect trends across seasons and rotations.

Hard and fast rules when investing in analysis

Following some simple principles will help you get the best out of your results:

• Follow the sampling procedure to avoid prejudicing the result
• Sample consistently at the right time of year or crop stage for the analysis requested
• Choose a lab and stick to the same analytical process, year in year out
  • Whilst each lab applies the same analytical methodologies, different instruments mean no two results from two different labs will ever be the same.
  • What is important is that each laboratory measurements are within specific industry tolerance ranges for the nutrients they are testing.
  • Using the same lab and method for repeat testing means you can have an accurate measure of progress year on year.
• Be clear on the purpose of the analysis: what are you trying to measure and why? Will the analysis help you deliver what you want to achieve?
• If necessary, take independent advice from the lab, your consultant, or trusted key people within your business.
• Get involved in understanding the results, it’s best to work with your consultant to really understand the advice.

How can I use analysis for SFI eligibility?

Analysis is front and centre of all the new incentive schemes offered by DEFRA and its devolved administrations. Participation in the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), for example, means committing to soil analysis, if you haven’t done so already. This includes a baseline of soil organic matter (SOM) for full eligibility.

The key analytical focus of these schemes is to ensure that soil nutrient levels are on target. Being paid to produce public goods like improved water quality, biodiversity, animal health and welfare, climate change mitigation, and sustainable food production is meant to incentivise a change in management—a transition towards adopting more sustainable ways to manage land.

DEFRA has the ambitious target of encouraging 70,000 farmers to participate in the SFI. This of course equates to a huge amount of analysis, and so the true value in the transition will be in all the marginal gains adding up over time.

As we all adapt and change how we manage the productive landscape, the real benefits emerge, both financially and environmentally. To get to this point, it’ll take a change in mindset and courage from those willing to be the first to make positive change.

Restoring the balance

Regenerative agriculture principles are just good practice and are examples of the many approaches used by our predecessors who managed the land pre the industrial revolution and the Second World War. But these approaches are enhanced by modern technologies. We are now in a position to quantify the benefits of the regenerative agriculture and analysis is there to support the changing of management decisions. The true value in the transition towards “restoring the balance” will be shown in the accumulation of all the marginal gains we make as an industry in the coming years.

NRM can help. As the UK’s largest provider of agronomic analysis for the land-based industries, we provide expert, insightful analysis and advice to help you adopt sustainable farming practices without compromising on productivity.

Contact us to book in your analysis today.