IAS Laboratories’ inaugural national soil summary shows nutrient imbalances across two thirds of Irish soils

For the first time, IAS Laboratories has published an annual soil summary report for 2023-2024, compiling data from thousands of soil samples across Ireland. The data reveals that there are significant nutrient imbalances across two thirds of Irish soils.

IAS Laboratories specialises in agricultural and environmental testing, with 30 years’ expertise in agricultural soil testing and silage analysis. The business’ inaugural soil summary is compiled from 45,000 soil samples collected across Ireland between June 2023 and May 2024. This data helps farmers and their advisors understand current nutrient status across Ireland, compare results across farms, implement insightful management strategies, and enhance soil health for optimal crop production.

‘The soil data that we analysed last season shows that there are some serious nutrient deficiencies in most Irish soils,’ said Dr Sajjad Awan, Agronomy Manager at NRM, IAS Laboratories’ sister company. ‘Over 30 years, we’ve seen similar deficiencies in the UK at NRM, prompting us to launch a soil summary for IAS to see how soils are faring in Ireland and to help farmers decide what to do with that information.

‘The findings are a wake-up call. It’s concerning that imbalances seem to be the norm, and whilst weather conditions do have an impact on nutrient availability and crop yields, it’s important to learn from the data to work towards overall improvement.’

Key findings from the summary include:

• Soil pH: although the average soil pH was 6.4, which is close to the ideal range for crop growth, 37% of samples fell below pH 6.0. Low soil pH reduces the availability of key nutrients, which has an impact on the efficient use of applied fertilisers. It also increases the availability of aluminium and manganese, which can reach toxic levels and harm plant roots, reducing their ability to absorb water and nutrients.
• Soil phosphorus: 63% of soils were deficient in phosphorus, which can limit crop yields, and 15% had too much phosphorus, which poses potential environmental risks through leaching.

To help optimise soil nutrient levels, Dr Awan recommends testing more regularly. This will give growers and advisors the data they need to start making informed, insightful changes into their management programmes and improve crop production.

‘Testing is the only way to get the information required to start taking steps towards evening out these issues and imbalances,’ said Dr Awan. ‘However, many farmers either don’t test frequently enough or failing to act on their results. Regular soil testing is so beneficial, as it provides crucial insights into the nutrient status of the soil. This helps farmers and land managers make informed decisions about fertilisation and soil amendments for optimal farm productivity. Consistent testing also allows farmers to track progress year after year, leading to measurable improvements in both productivity and profitability over time. We recommend testing all fields once every four years, or rotating through a quarter of fields annually.’

IAS Laboratories’ standard soil package provides an analysis of plant-available phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and soil pH. Additional tests, including analysis of soil organic matter, soil carbon, and plant tissue testing throughout the year provide farmers with a comprehensive understanding of their soil health for more informed decisions each season.

‘Supporting sustainable food production and a fostering safer, healthier planet are core priorities for us as a business,’ said Laura Kavanagh, Assistant Laboratory Manager at IAS. ‘We are pleased to launch our brand new soil summary to give Irish farmers the nationwide data and insights that they have never had before. This resource can be used to help them make informed decisions to improve both their individual farms and contribute to the overall health of Irish soils.’

View the first part of the soil summary here.