Measuring sandy soil fertility performance with organic amendments

Date: Monday 9th May 2022

By MFMG Admin

Project code: LCLBGG2021/22-1/0011

Project manager: Dr Mel Fraser

Project duration: July 2021 to June 2024

About the project

This trial aims to measure the most cost-effective conventional and alternative methods for maintaining healthy soils in a grazing system, and to increase the knowledge and skills of the agricultural community so that they can maintain healthy soils in their production systems.

The trial has been set up to compare 6 conventional and alternative soil amendment treatments with a control on deep acid sands at a property in Hatherleigh. Soil constraints have been investigated, and have indicated that the site is moderately water repellent and acidic below 10cm, with a deficiency of phosphorus.

The treatments have been designed to increase the pH of the soil, reduce the risk of erosion, increase phosphorus levels, and to increase the carbon and organic matter content of these soils in order to reduce water repellence.

This trial will help farmers and the agricultural community to ascertain which treatments are the most cost effective and efficient on farm, to help them create healthy soils that are resilient and that can more easily adapt to changes in climate.

The treatments were applied in April 2021 in 24m x 7m plots across the site (funded through the 2020 Grassroots Grants program). These plots will then be over sown with either an annual or a perennial pasture, subject to advice from the farmer’s advisors.

Assessments will be conducted for each treatment as follows in each year of the project: