Measuring the impact of farming activities for a more sustainable future: an NRM solution
NRM
Agriculture
UK farmers are under increasing pressure to meet the government’s pledge for net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The introduction of the Sustainable Farming Incentive, which will support farmers in becoming more sustainable and increase long-term food productivity, will also require adoption of environmental land management practices. So, what can farmers do to meet obligations whilst remaining productive?
Read on to find out about why it’s important to measure soil carbon levels, and what one farmer has already accomplished so far.
Why measure soil carbon levels?
Carbon is essential to the soil ecosystem. Organic carbon is particularly crucial as it gives greater physical stability in the soil and increases oxygen levels, improves water drainage and retention, and reduces the risk of erosion and nutrient leaching.
Regularly measuring carbon in soils, especially the active carbon element, is an effective way to evaluate year-on-year soil health and plan how to improve it in the future. It enables assessment of the impact of sustainable farming practices, as well as providing future benchmarks for carbon markets. Undisturbed land, with permanent cover, represent profitable and productive sinks for carbon stocks, as they generate a higher carbon content.
Ultimately, increasing soil carbon levels leads to increased microbial activity, enhanced nutrient supply, and greater yields—a combination vital to a farmer’s success. Carbon capture and storage are also important in reversing atmospheric carbon dioxide pollution, so farmers can be assured that they are contributing to a healthier planet too.
Digging for value-added insight
One farmer who has already taken the first steps onto their sustainable farming journey is Robin Aird, Farms and Estate Manager at Charlton Park Estate, Wiltshire. Last Spring, he participated in a study using NRM’s comprehensive CarbonCheck service to review the soil carbon status of 350 acres of land under continuous arable production.
Robin and his team aimed to optimise the yield and profitability of the land with effective crop management that considers the environment, soil health and, more recently, benchmarks for future carbon markets. They started to introduce manures back on the farm as a closed cycle to build up organic matter and futureproof the soil, but lacked any soil carbon data and so were unsure of what effect their management was having on carbon stocks.
NRM’s CarbonCheck service, developed by NRM following consultation with industry experts, agronomists, and government advisors, measures organic carbon as part of a comprehensive analysis suite and enables farmers to benchmark their soil health. A variety of other soil tests are included for further insight, including organic matter, C:N ratio, total nitrogen, total carbon, inorganic carbon, carbonate classification, and bulk density. There is also the option to measure the readily available portion of soil carbon that provides a food source for soil microbes (active carbon) for growers working to improve soil health.
By measuring the soil carbon levels on the farm, Robin wanted:
- To benchmark and monitor the farm’s soil health;
- To devise effective crop nutrition plans;
- To develop plans to increase the farm’s soil carbon;
- To contribute to improving the environment through carbon sequestration;
- To provide a benchmark for carbon markets and increase the farm’s revenue stream;
- To experience the soil carbon measuring process for personal and professional interest.
As long-time customers, Robin and his team have used NRM’s soil sampling and analysis services for many years. The business’ new CarbonCheck service seemed perfect in fulfilling Robin’s goals. So, I (Rory Geldard, Commerical Manager at NRM) got to work.
How they did it
Each field was sampled at 30cm depth using both bulk density and scoop sampling methods. Using the standard W pattern to ensure each sampled area was as representative as possible, I collected between 16 and 20 sub-samples from locations along the route. These were then mixed thoroughly and bagged. I repeated the process for some of the other fields, while others were sampled based on soil texture. I then sent the samples to the laboratory for analysis.
Robin was very pleased with his results, which came back higher than NRM’s dataset average of 6,000 samples. The farm’s average soil organic carbon (SOC) was 3.3% compared to 2.99%, their active carbon was 769 mg/kg compared to 674 mg/kg, and their organic carbon stock (in tonnes per hectare) was 114 t/ha whilst the dataset average was 90 t/ha.
Where are they now?
One year on, Robin’s results have convinced him to adapt management across this area of the farm by establishing an autumn cover crop rather than leaving the ground bare over winter. This will help maintain the levels of SOC they already have and should build them steadily over time. Cover crops also have the added benefit of keeping soil and nutrients in the field and contribute to the overall health and structure of the soil.
With the introduction of the Sustainable Farming Incentive, the Estate is planning on joining the arable standard, which involves regularly testing the land’s soil organic matter status. Continuing with CarbonCheck will ensure that the obligations are met and will help them maintain, manage, and improve SOC levels across the rest of the Estate.
‘I was very impressed with the level of service Rory and NRM provided, as always,’ said Robin. ‘I can trust the results I get from NRM as they have always given me a fast, reliable and realistic service. Working with NRM has helped me implement and adjust insightful nutrition programmes for almost two decades. Experiencing NRM’s CarbonCheck service has been so interesting as there is a lot of talk in the industry about the “right” method of measuring soil organic matter and a realistic view on carbon market feasibility. It’s been great to see how CarbonCheck works in such a clear, comprehensive way.’
Ultimately, by being presented with real data on soil carbon levels, Robin was able to determine that his initial attempts to build up organic matter and create a more sustainable farming environment were working. This assurance will help him create effective and insightful crop and soil health plans, as well as take steps to increase his levels of soil carbon even more.
The importance of analysis
Understanding soil carbon levels is important because lower levels can limit yield. The most important thing farmers can do is to sample to a consistent depth of 30cm every 5 years to see how levels change over time. This ensures that the impact of any land management change on soil carbon levels can be monitored and, in general, agronomic decision making can be adapted to maintain and build levels into the future.
For more information on CarbonCheck and our full range of agronomic analysis services, click here. To contact us, click here.
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