Anyone had a soil analysis done …

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canteron

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…. and how useful was it.

Looking at my mossy poached fields, I think they need attention in the Spring, overseeding, fertilising, etc.

Was it worth the investment and does it help you understand what minerals may be lacking in the grazed horses diet?

And could you get hold of the right products for a small acreage?
 
Yes and very. It's sandy around me so minerals do leach out. It's old pasture so not been ploughed in over 100 years and I wanted to put lime on it. The local place who does liming suggested I had it properly tested - not an over the counter test- an't remember exactly how much £75 ish. He took about six samples. Fibre content was high as was the carbon sequestered in the land.
We spread lime, sodium (sweetens the grass), I'll have to look what else we put on but it was all to improve the base and quality, not to grow richer grass - definitely everything was done to optimise grass for horses.
 
Yes, very although if using Progreen get your sample in early otherwise you get lost amongst all the farms in Spring.

Showed my top field was low in manganese which explained (I think) why hoof growth slowed last year. I got the results back too late to address it last year so we'll get the foliage spray on this Spring.

When I first bought the yard a lot of the grass was very yellow and that turned out to be a sulphur deficiency. Addressed that quickly - pellets - and I've had much nicer grass since.

I do also return my well rotted muck heap to the fields on rotation.
 
canteron said:
…. and how useful was it.

Looking at my mossy poached fields, I think they need attention in the Spring, overseeding, fertilising, etc.

Was it worth the investment and does it help you understand what minerals may be lacking in the grazed horses diet?

And could you get hold of the right products for a small acreage?
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Yes, it’s a really sensible routine to adopt, probably most effective way is now RHIZA, but wildly uneconomic for a few acres.
Fertiliser companies usually offer this, you do a W trek through the pasture, taking individual samples from the ground, for their analysis.
You might be better asking a paddock management business to come and do the lot - sampling, interpretation, advice and implement what’s most necessary for your needs. Sometimes see these advertising in horse / smallholder type media, obviously identified a market, and likely to work out cheaper than trying to hire / buy / store grassland maintenance equipment. Could probably ask at agri colleges, just bound to be someone doing a relevant thesis. Good luck.
 
Exasperated said:
Yes, it’s a really sensible routine to adopt, probably most effective way is now RHIZA, but wildly uneconomic for a few acres.
Fertiliser companies usually offer this, you do a W trek through the pasture, taking individual samples from the ground, for their analysis.
You might be better asking a paddock management business to come and do the lot - sampling, interpretation, advice and implement what’s most necessary for your needs. Sometimes see these advertising in horse / smallholder type media, obviously identified a market, and likely to work out cheaper than trying to hire / buy / store grassland maintenance equipment. Could probably ask at agri colleges, just bound to be someone doing a relevant thesis. Good luck.
Click to expand...
I found it was expensive using 3rd parties for small acreage. The Progreen tests are £60ish and I manually applied what was needed. May not have had the even coverage you'd get with the right equipment, but far cheaper!
 
If you want to collect the lab samples yourself there is excellent guidance on how to do it here: https://cawood.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Soil-How-to-take-a-Sample-Guide.pdf (ignore most of pgs 3 & 4).

In terms of soil tests you want a broad spectrum nutrient analysis. You do not need any biological / soil health tests.
Some labs if you provide land use information with the soil sample will provide fertiliser recommendations with the results as part of the service.

If you have poaching, you will have soil compaction issues. You can check for compaction and how bad it is following this method: https://ahdb.org.uk/knowledge-library/how-to-assess-soil-structure

Soil compaction can be the main limiting factor on growth in many instances.
 
Thank you everyone for bothering to reply and the useful information. I have now done soils samples and sent them off …. Agrichem if anyone is interested ….. I will work out what to do when the results come back, but, I think they can supply the necessary product as well.
As mentioned by 2 posters above, if anyone is going to do this it’s a good idea to do it now as the labs are apparently busy so results will take 2-3 weeks.
 
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On soil compaction - I hired a man with a slice aerator 2 years ago and the grass loved it! Made a huge difference.

I struggle with timings for heavy machinery as I often need the field before its dry enough for a tractor but I'll do it again this year if possible
 
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