Farmers are being urged to make the most of an extended post-harvest window by assessing soil condition and nutrient status before carrying out routine fertiliser applications or cultivations.
The unusually dry conditions mean soils could be in a very different position compared with a typical year, according to Warwickshire arable farmer and BASIS-qualified agronomist Will Oliver.
He is encouraging growers to assess each field individually rather than automatically following previous practices.
“Instead of focusing on what you’ve done historically, or what others are doing, let your soil dictate what action you take,” he says.
“Rather than assuming hard ground needs remedial cultivation, go into each field with a spade, dig a hole and assess the structure.”
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Mr Oliver says a simple assessment can help determine whether soil structure has actually been damaged.
If the soil around the spade wobbles, he says this indicates the structure remains sound.
He also believes growers should allow for the possibility of natural recovery when rainfall returns.
“If soils were in good condition before, there’s no reason to assume they won’t recover once moisture returns,” he says.
“Cracks and channels created by dry conditions can also aid water infiltration when the rain comes.”
Little justification for subsoiling
After walking his own fields, Mr Oliver says he sees little justification for subsoiling in the current conditions.
“Deep cultivation in very dry soils will increase metal wear and machinery damage for little agronomic pay-off.
“Where intervention is needed, light discing may be the better option.”
The advice comes as growers turn their attention towards establishment and nutrition for autumn-drilled crops, including oilseed rape (OSR).
Sam Leadbeater, UK and Ireland sales manager for OCI, is similarly advocating an evidence-led approach to soil nutrition.
“Good nutrition at establishment is key for OSR, particularly ensuring phosphate, potash and sulphur availability.
“Use tissue tests or soil analysis where appropriate to identify any specific limitations rather than applying nutrients routinely.”
Residual nitrogen needs checking
Mr Leadbeater says growers should also consider the possibility that more residual nitrogen remains in soils than expected following the unusually dry season.
“With little rainfall, there’s been less leaching or run-off, while crops also matured much earlier, cutting short nitrogen uptake.”
However, residual nitrogen levels are unlikely to be consistent across every field, particularly where growers reduced fertiliser applications earlier in the season.
“That’s why soil testing will be particularly important this year.”
With autumn conditions becoming increasingly variable, Mr Leadbeater says getting crop nutrition right at establishment can help improve resilience.
“With increasingly variable autumn conditions, getting nutrition right early can make a real difference to crop resilience and the crop’s ability to withstand disease and challenging weather.”
Where nitrogen applications are required, he recommends supplying sulphur alongside nitrogen to support nitrogen use efficiency.
“Nitrogen uptake alone doesn’t support crop growth. To use nitrogen, plants have to convert it into proteins and other growth compounds.
“Sulphur supports this process by aiding the formation of amino acids and enzymes needed for this protein synthesis.”
The advice is ultimately to avoid treating every field in the same way.
“This year, soil condition and nutrient demand will vary field to field. Use the extra time to test, assess and base decisions on what each field actually needs,” he concludes.
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