Essential, but neglected element for profitable farms
The importance of soil fertility will be explained at the Teagasc soil fertility conference on Wednesday, October 17, in the Lyrath Hotel, Kilkenny, starting at 9:15am.
With the theme of optimising soil and fertiliser management for sustainable grassland production. It includes topics such as the response to potassium, and implications for grass silage production; managing grass-clover swards in an intensive grass-based system; and long-term fertiliser use trends in Ireland, and the implications for sustainability.
Soil testing and correcting deficiencies are the most cost effective tools to optimise use of fertiliser and slurry, and production.
Proper soil fertility is the basis for profitable and environmentally friendly farming. Based on the low level of soil testing and the deficiencies that are showing up, it is clear that this basic and essential element of profitable and good farming is not getting the attention it deserves.
Proper soil fertility is more important than ever in order to optimise the returns from expensive fertiliser and lime.
Over 75% of the recent soil samples are showing up serious deficiencies in P, K or lime and, to make matters worse, these samples are probably from the better farms.
K is particularly low in ground and this should ideally be corrected in the autumn. Another soil problem is incorrect soil sampling, which is worse than no sampling, because it can give misleading results. For example, if samples from areas treated differently in the past regarding slurry applications, silage cutting etc. are mixed, the results might indicate that the area is OK for lime, P or K, but the reality is quite different.
Fertiliser recommendations are based on samples taken to four inches deep. Samples taken to any other depth are misleading because most of the nutrients are in the top layers. At least 25 cores should be taken in a W pattern in the area to be sampled.
Avoid sampling for P and K analysis within 10 weeks of fertilising with P and K, and within 12 weeks of slurry application or within 18 months of liming. Avoid sampling around gaps or areas where cattle gather.
Ideally, soil testing laboratories should have a well-trained person to take the samples.
