The end of “averages”? An introduction to 5 key areas where growers could make significant gains
NRM
Agriculture
Average figures are incredibly helpful in giving farmers and advisors a general idea that they are moving in the right direction in predicting crop requirements. However, when you drill down to individual farms and regions, it’s clear that our soils have far greater variability in terms of structure, nutrient availability, and utilisation—meaning we need to take a more case-by-case approach.
NRM has recently carried out a five-year study of nearly 500,000 soil samples from the UK. Read on to find out more about the findings of this study and an introduction to the five key areas where growers could make significant gains using laboratory analysis.
The importance of laboratory analysis and adapting sustainable practices
Growers are faced with greater environmental and sustainability demands than ever before. Adopting sustainable farming practices whilst boosting productivity is crucial in improving resilience—but many are attempting to do so with critically sub-optimal nutrient levels and soil quality.
It’s been a real eye opener just how variable our soils are, and not just between different regions of the UK, but also between neighbouring fields on the same farm. Some of this is undoubtedly being driven by climate change, with the wetter and milder winters and drier, hotter summers affecting soil microflora and biology to a significant degree.
This points to a reshaping of some aspects of current management thinking, but the analysis also shows following some simple steps can help address many of these issues.
Adapting in this way, including incorporating sustainable practices, could improve the soil considerably while making better use of resources.
The key is to know where you’re starting from and base management decisions around own farm data and not assumptions or generalised information.
Testing, whether it be soil organic matter, soil nutrient status, nitrogen offtake in harvested crops, or for a whole host of other analytics, has to become a routine part of future farm management. Only then will producers be able to make the necessary improvements across a range of management areas that together will combine to deliver real benefits to their business and the environment alike.
Measuring with laboratory analysis enables us to reduce the uncertainty of nutrient supply, helps to better match nutrient supply to crop demand, and allows us to keep hold of resources that have an important fertiliser replacement value.
NRM’s analysis shows that there are five key areas where growers could make significant gains:
- Soil carbon
- Grain nutrient offtakes
- Nutrient utilisation in the face of unpredictable weather conditions
- Soil pH
- Organic manure utilisation, including taking magnesium into account.
Keep an eye on our blog over the next few weeks, as we’ll be expanding upon all of the above, talking about the importance of these improvements and how analysis can help you optimise crop production and improve profitability.
How NRM can help
NRM is the UK’s largest agronomic analysis independent provider of agronomic and environmental waste analysis for land-based industries. Contact us today or speak to your advisor to book in any of our analytical services to help you optimise crop production and improve soil health.
This is part of an updated version of an article published in Crop Production Magazine in March 2023.
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