Soil testing

[Jane61]

The sunshine has made me turn my thoughts to harrowing fertilising etc etc (assuming the fields ever dry out that is!). We have not been at this place long and I am pretty sure the fields are going to need a good dose of fertilizer and probably nitrogen but no point in putting the wrong stuff down. Can I test the soil myself or should it be sent to a proper lab if so anyone have any recommendations?

 

[zoeshiloh]

You should ideally get an independant agronomist to take soil samples and send them away for analysis. There is no point at all in just throwing nitrogen on the field, as if the soil is lacking in other minerals, the nitrogen cannot be utilised correctly and you just end up with a huge nitrogen store in the soil, but no goodness making it through into the grass (hope that makes sense). The grass needs other minerals to allow it to take up nitrogen, and if these are lacking in the soil, no matter how much nitrogen you throw on, the grass will not improve greatly.

To get a proper soil sample you really need to go down to a depth of at least 1m. This is then split into 20cm samples, and sent to a specialist lab to test. You can conduct crude tests at home, but by sending it to a lab designed for such analysis, they will come back with the exact nutrient requirements for the field in question, and if going through a company such as YARA, they will then blend the fertiliser specifically for your field.

As for companies that do this, I can't really help I'm afraid as I work as an agronomist, but all our samples are sent off in bulk to NRM, and costs vary, but start around the £25/per sample mark. Depending on the detail of analysis you want, this can be increased to include other minerals etc.

http://www.nrm.uk.com/

 

[jrp204]

If you contact your local ag merchants they will be able to give you some names of people who can do it. You will need to check the ph first, we don't put too much N on but use New 52 which is 21:8:11 and this seems to work really well.

 

[OWLIE185]

I would be very wary of adding anything to fields where horses are grazing on them as it can cause all sorts of issues. If you are going to do it then allow some time for the horses not to be using those fields..

 

[zoeshiloh]

[ QUOTE ]
I would be very wary of adding anything to fields where horses are grazing on them as it can cause all sorts of issues. If you are going to do it then allow some time for the horses not to be using those fields..

[/ QUOTE ]

Most people's problems stem from not spreading the right balance on their fields, ie, chucking on straight N or plain old 20:10:10 thinking that is what it needs. This causes mineral inbalances in the soil and then into the grass itself, which goes on to cause problems.

If you soil test you frield, and treat accordingly, you will end up with fewer problems.

Fields should be rested for 48 hours after all the fertiliser granuals have 'vanished' (been absorbed) from the soil surface.

 

[Jane61]

Thank you all for your thoughts. I am going to start with the two empty fields, with any luck by the time the soil has been tested it will be dry enough to get on the fields to apply whatever is appropriate!