Best Practices and Farm Management
Managing Soils for a Sustainable Future – On Upland Livestock Farms
Managing Soils for a Sustainable Future – On Upland Livestock Farms
This information is from The Soil Health Initiative. The Soil Health Initiative aims to bring together the wealth of understanding of soil health and management to help farmers improve their soil health and thus productive farming alongside environmental benefit.
This information is from The Soil Health Initiative. The Soil Health Initiative aims to bring together the wealth of understanding of soil health and management to help farmers improve their soil health and thus productive farming alongside environmental benefit.
UK Soil Health Initiative
This information is from The Soil Health Initiative. The Soil Health Initiative aims to bring together the wealth of understanding of soil health and management to help farmers improve their soil health and thus productive farming alongside environmental benefit.
All six soil health guides, covering most of the UK agricultural sector, can be found at: cfeonline.org.uk
FIRST STEPS FOR IMPROVING SOIL HEALTH
Well managed and functioning soils are the foundation for all production systems. Soils with good structure that contain diverse and abundant flora and fauna, which can provide the nutrients plants need to grow, form essential building blocks for productive farms.
There is no one-size-fits-all blueprint to improve soil health. Effective soil management must build on existing practice, your farming system, soil type, climate, cropping etc.
Although managing soils well can be confusing and complex, this guide brings together some initial steps that can be implemented across upland farming systems and will help you understand your soils and plan your first steps to improving soil health.
2 THINGS TO CONSIDER
1
FENCING TO PROTECT HIGH RISK AREAS
e.g. wet areas, watercourses and areas prone to erosion
2
INTRODUCE TREES INTO UPLAND PASTURES
2 THINGS TO AVOID
1
BURNING, EXCEPT AS PART OF A REGENERATION PROGRAMME
2
OVERSTOCKING
(even in patches), especially when outwintering
WHERE YOU WANT TO IMPROVE SOIL HEALTH
EVERYONE SHOULD:
GOING BEYOND THE NORM MIGHT MEAN:
🗺ï¸
KNOW YOUR SITE AND SOILS
Understanding the soils you have across your land, including how slope and proximity to watercourses influence risks.
Know the land use constraints of the farm, and consider the impact of variability – hydrology, slope, erosion risk etc
Record your soil observations and data so you can refer back to them easily
Understand the catchment scale context
Make sure everyone on the farm understands the importance of soils
Develop on-farm skills that promote effective management of your soils
Spend time in peer-to-peer learning and engage in research
Monitor the system as a whole e.g. grass production, livestock and crop quality, water quality etc
🌿
CROP MANAGEMENT
Having more diverse grasslands (and crop rotations) can support soil health improvement. Crops that support/replenish soil structure, organic matter and nutrient balance will help improve your soil.
Control noxious weeds
Do not cultivate upland pasture; use appropriate in-bye land to cultivate stubble turnips or establish high-productivity leys
Introduce trees to upland pasture
Reduce or exclude grazing pressure in vulnerable areas, allowing targeted natural regeneration of scrub and trees to protect soils and support biodiversity
Adapt grazing and forage system management to support pollinators and ground-nesting birds
âš—ï¸
OPTIMISE NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT
Understanding your existing soil nutrient levels will help to apply the right nutrients in the right quantities. On in-bye land especially, good nutrient management saves time and money.
On in-bye land: use soil testing regularly to optimise fertiliser and lime use (pH, P, K, Mg)
Maintain pH (liming / gypsum as needed)
Use robust information to aid nutrient planning e.g. RB209
Match fertiliser type to soil type to increase N use efficiency and minimise NH3 emissions
Take care with the timing of slurry application – promote infiltration and plant uptake
Take care with the location of slurry applications; be aware of watercourses and how slope and soil type may affect run-off
No additional recommendations specific to upland farms beyond the standard actions
🪨
IMPROVE SOIL PHYSICAL CONDITION
Well structured soils will usually be free draining and support good plant growth. Soils free from compaction help minimise the impacts of flooding and drought.
Maintain drains where needed
If you cause damage, put a remediation plan in place
Use lightweight vehicles wherever possible
Minimise surface damage and compaction – use appropriate tyres and tyre pressures
Only outwinter on grassland where damage risk is low
Consider where livestock are fed overwinter to avoid poaching or compaction
Minimise compaction – consider where troughs, feeders and gates are located
Use fencing to protect high risk areas (e.g. wet areas, watercourses and areas prone to erosion)
Consider using native breeds to utilise grass more effectively
💧
MANAGE RUN-OFF IN THE FIELD
Water flowing across your fields is the primary way that soil erosion will occur, also transporting nutrients and pesticides away from where they are most valuable.
Incorporate designed buffer strips alongside watercourses, ditches and hedges
Minimise run-off / erosion risk through consideration of the direction of cultivation
Capture runoff and sediment in field
Consider the links to streams, ditches and other waterways and break the pollution pathways where possible
🌱
MAINTAIN SOIL ORGANIC MATTER AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY
Soil organic matter and biology are crucial to many aspects of soil health, making soils more resilient to waterlogging and compaction.
Keep soil covered during the winter period, wherever possible – no bare ground
No additional recommendations beyond keeping soil covered wherever possible
WWF
WWF is one of the world’s largest independent conservation organisations, active in nearly 100 countries. WWF-UK and Tesco have come together with a shared ambition to halve the environmental impact of the average UK shopping basket.
wwf.org.uk/basket-metric
WWF
TESCO
CFE
UK SOIL HEALTH INITIATIVE
The Soil Health Initiative aims to bring together the wealth of understanding of soil health and management to help farmers improve their soil health and thus productive farming alongside environmental benefit.
cfeonline.org.uk
The information in this leaflet is generated from a workshop which involved: ADAS, Agrovista, AHDB, AIC, Agrii, Anglian Water, British Grassland Society, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, CF Fertilisers, CLA, Cranfield University, East of England Agricultural Society, Environment Agency – soils, Gs Growers, Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, Hillcourt, Hutchinsons, Innovation for Agriculture, James Hutton Institute, Lancrop/Yara, NIAB, NFU, National Trust, Natural England – Catchment Sensitive Farming, Organic Farmers and Growers, Royal Agricultural University, SRUC, SectorMentor, Sustainable Soils Alliance, and the Universities of Lincoln and Sheffield. The workshop was made possible thanks to generous funding from Anglian Water.
UK Soil Health Initiative
This information is from The Soil Health Initiative. The Soil Health Initiative aims to bring together the wealth of understanding of soil health and management to help farmers improve their soil health and thus productive farming alongside environmental benefit.
All six soil health guides, covering most of the UK agricultural sector, can be found at: cfeonline.org.uk
FIRST STEPS FOR IMPROVING SOIL HEALTH
Well managed and functioning soils are the foundation for all production systems. Soils with good structure that contain diverse and abundant flora and fauna, which can provide the nutrients plants need to grow, form essential building blocks for productive farms.
There is no one-size-fits-all blueprint to improve soil health. Effective soil management must build on existing practice, your farming system, soil type, climate, cropping etc.
Although managing soils well can be confusing and complex, this guide brings together some initial steps that can be implemented across upland farming systems and will help you understand your soils and plan your first steps to improving soil health.
2 THINGS TO CONSIDER
1
FENCING TO PROTECT HIGH RISK AREAS
e.g. wet areas, watercourses and areas prone to erosion
2
INTRODUCE TREES INTO UPLAND PASTURES
2 THINGS TO AVOID
1
BURNING, EXCEPT AS PART OF A REGENERATION PROGRAMME
2
OVERSTOCKING
(even in patches), especially when outwintering
WHERE YOU WANT TO IMPROVE SOIL HEALTH
EVERYONE SHOULD:
GOING BEYOND THE NORM MIGHT MEAN:
🗺ï¸
KNOW YOUR SITE AND SOILS
Understanding the soils you have across your land, including how slope and proximity to watercourses influence risks.
Know the land use constraints of the farm, and consider the impact of variability – hydrology, slope, erosion risk etc
Record your soil observations and data so you can refer back to them easily
Understand the catchment scale context
Make sure everyone on the farm understands the importance of soils
Develop on-farm skills that promote effective management of your soils
Spend time in peer-to-peer learning and engage in research
Monitor the system as a whole e.g. grass production, livestock and crop quality, water quality etc
🌿
CROP MANAGEMENT
Having more diverse grasslands (and crop rotations) can support soil health improvement. Crops that support/replenish soil structure, organic matter and nutrient balance will help improve your soil.
Control noxious weeds
Do not cultivate upland pasture; use appropriate in-bye land to cultivate stubble turnips or establish high-productivity leys
Introduce trees to upland pasture
Reduce or exclude grazing pressure in vulnerable areas, allowing targeted natural regeneration of scrub and trees to protect soils and support biodiversity
Adapt grazing and forage system management to support pollinators and ground-nesting birds
âš—ï¸
OPTIMISE NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT
Understanding your existing soil nutrient levels will help to apply the right nutrients in the right quantities. On in-bye land especially, good nutrient management saves time and money.
On in-bye land: use soil testing regularly to optimise fertiliser and lime use (pH, P, K, Mg)
Maintain pH (liming / gypsum as needed)
Use robust information to aid nutrient planning e.g. RB209
Match fertiliser type to soil type to increase N use efficiency and minimise NH3 emissions
Take care with the timing of slurry application – promote infiltration and plant uptake
Take care with the location of slurry applications; be aware of watercourses and how slope and soil type may affect run-off
No additional recommendations specific to upland farms beyond the standard actions
🪨
IMPROVE SOIL PHYSICAL CONDITION
Well structured soils will usually be free draining and support good plant growth. Soils free from compaction help minimise the impacts of flooding and drought.
Maintain drains where needed
If you cause damage, put a remediation plan in place
Use lightweight vehicles wherever possible
Minimise surface damage and compaction – use appropriate tyres and tyre pressures
Only outwinter on grassland where damage risk is low
Consider where livestock are fed overwinter to avoid poaching or compaction
Minimise compaction – consider where troughs, feeders and gates are located
Use fencing to protect high risk areas (e.g. wet areas, watercourses and areas prone to erosion)
Consider using native breeds to utilise grass more effectively
💧
MANAGE RUN-OFF IN THE FIELD
Water flowing across your fields is the primary way that soil erosion will occur, also transporting nutrients and pesticides away from where they are most valuable.
Incorporate designed buffer strips alongside watercourses, ditches and hedges
Minimise run-off / erosion risk through consideration of the direction of cultivation
Capture runoff and sediment in field
Consider the links to streams, ditches and other waterways and break the pollution pathways where possible
🌱
MAINTAIN SOIL ORGANIC MATTER AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY
Soil organic matter and biology are crucial to many aspects of soil health, making soils more resilient to waterlogging and compaction.
Keep soil covered during the winter period, wherever possible – no bare ground
No additional recommendations beyond keeping soil covered wherever possible
WWF
WWF is one of the world’s largest independent conservation organisations, active in nearly 100 countries. WWF-UK and Tesco have come together with a shared ambition to halve the environmental impact of the average UK shopping basket.
wwf.org.uk/basket-metric
WWF
TESCO
CFE
UK SOIL HEALTH INITIATIVE
The Soil Health Initiative aims to bring together the wealth of understanding of soil health and management to help farmers improve their soil health and thus productive farming alongside environmental benefit.
cfeonline.org.uk
The information in this leaflet is generated from a workshop which involved: ADAS, Agrovista, AHDB, AIC, Agrii, Anglian Water, British Grassland Society, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, CF Fertilisers, CLA, Cranfield University, East of England Agricultural Society, Environment Agency – soils, Gs Growers, Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, Hillcourt, Hutchinsons, Innovation for Agriculture, James Hutton Institute, Lancrop/Yara, NIAB, NFU, National Trust, Natural England – Catchment Sensitive Farming, Organic Farmers and Growers, Royal Agricultural University, SRUC, SectorMentor, Sustainable Soils Alliance, and the Universities of Lincoln and Sheffield. The workshop was made possible thanks to generous funding from Anglian Water.