Code : AHDB CP 107b
Contract Period : 01/04/2015 - 31/03/2018
Project Webpage : https://ahdb.org.uk/knowledge-library
Main Funder : AHDB - Horticulture
ORC Staff Contact : Anja Vieweger
Growing Resilient Efficient And Thriving Soils
The project aims to:
The benefits for growers are:
Where growers are able to optimise and maintain soil organic matter levels, the benefits can be financially and environmentally significant. Improved soil health management can increase yields and potentially reduce costs as the land will become more productive.
ORC leads on two work packages, the first one produced a literature review on the variety of different soil assessment methods and tools currently available for UK growers. This review will be publicly available by the end of the year. In the second work package we have launched a series of grower consultation events in 4 different growing regions of the UK, where we sought advice, critical feedback and opinions from growers and consultants on the usefulness and applicability of currently available soil assessment methods. Based on the outcomes of these consultation events, we will organise 6 field trials during the next two growing seasons (2016+2017) where we will explore various new and improved methods and new combinations of tools for soil assessments. These field trials on 6 different holdings across the UK will be accompanied by a number of field walks where all growers and interested participants from the regions are invited to see the new soil assessment approaches in action, get first feedback from the host-growers and give their own opinions on the usefulness of these approaches.
Vieweger A (2018) Practical soil assessment methods for different horticultural systems ORC Bulletin No.124
Soil assessment methodsAHDB Information Sheet 05: Summer 2016
Soil pH – how to measure and manage it based on an understanding of soil texture