Soil health

Soils are home to over a quarter of living species on earth and maintaining the biodiversity and function of these billions of microbes, fungi and invertebrate is key to soil health.

This myriad of life within soil is key to recycling the soil, making nutrients available to support plant growth and helping to develop a healthy soil structure. Healthy and productive soil is the most valuable asset on the farm.

What

Soil is a natural resource we cannot survive without. Healthy soils are critical to the long-term productivity of farmland and to the recovery of much of our farmland wildlife. Soil management is at the heart of good farming and helping wildlife.

Farming practices can put a lot of strain on the soil biodiversity that is critical to well functioning soils. The importance of developing practices that tread lightly on soil life is becoming increasingly recognised.

Field margin at RSPB's Hope farm, Knapwell, Cambridgeshire, England, September 2012

Why

A well structured soil is less susceptible to soil erosion and more permeable to water, making it less susceptible to drying out and water logging. Bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, insects and earthworms all play a critical role in aiding crop production.

Fungi and bacteria in soils convert organic matter into accessible nutrients and break down pollutants, mycorrhizal fungi assist in nutrient uptake, while bacteria form valuable associations with many crop roots to help fix and supply nitrogen. The benefits of earthworms, ‘natures plough’, in incorporating organic matter, air and structure into the soil as they go is well known. Healthy soils produce healthy crops which are more resilient to pests and disease, require fewer inputs and save farming money.

A thriving soil life underpins the whole food web, so healthy soils are critical to supporting more visible farmland wildlife such as birds and mammals.

It is estimated that more than 2 million tonnes of topsoil are lost in the UK every year. Soil formation is an extremely slow process and soil should be thought of as a non-renewable resource, therefore its conservation is of equal importance to that of any other habitat on the farm.

wheat field

How

Good soil management starts with a visual soil assessment to identify its texture, look at its structure and note anything that might not be right. Signs of compaction, lack of earthworm activity and restricted rooting may all be signs of an unhealthy, unproductive soil and the need to take remedial action. Soil analysis is another important tool; checking for soil nutrients at different depths allows the farmer to ensure nutrients are supplied according to crop demand, matching supply with removal.

Healthy soils come through making the right land management choices. To encourage soil organisms large and small, it is necessary first to protect their habitat. Reduced tillage, avoiding compaction, providing permanent soil cover, using crop rotations and minimising chemical inputs will all help provide a favourable environment.

Reduced or no tillage systems   not only prevent physical damage to the organisms themselves, but slow the rate of  organic matter decomposition and concentrate plant debris near the surface horizons where they can be incorporated into the soil by earthworms and fungal translocations. This benefits other micro organisms, promotes soil structure and enhances water storage which in turn improves crop yield and quality. For example, improved soil structure allows deeper and easier root penetration which makes the crop less susceptible to drought stress. There is also a fuel saving to the farmer resulting from fewer passes needed to establish crops.

Reduced or no tillage systems may not be suitable for all farms. It tends to be more successful on drier and more stable soils and there are also some potentially negative impacts which must be considered:

  • They should not be deployed where the conservation of cornfield flowers is important. The majority of these plants are annual and require regular cultivation for their seeds to germinate. Where these species are known to be present, then ploughing or secondary cultivation is needed. However, their seed banks are typically restricted to field edges and so it may be possible to practice localised soil disturbance within a minimal tillage system to benefit this highly threatened part of our native flora.
  • Reduced tillage can lead to a greater dependence on pesticides. Some grass weeds such as blackgrass and sterile brome can increase under reduced tillage because their seeds are retained near the surface although a lack of disturbance can prevent seeds from further down in the seedbank being brought to the surface. Similarly there is a greater threat of volunteer cereals which may act as a green bridge for disease. Crop rotations and cover crops are an essential component for a successful reduced or no tillage system, providing greater scope for non-chemical control of weeds and diseases.
  • Slugs can also be problematic with crop residues on the surface providing them with ideal conditions particularly in wet year but on the other hand the increased number of predators in healthy soils can reduce other pests.
  • Crop rotations encourage a wider variety of organisms and prevent the build-up of a single pest species. The use of legumes can be a valuable practice in nitrogen management and plants with strong tap roots can be useful in treating soil compaction. Inclusion of winter cover crops extends the growing season, increases the variety of plants in a field each year, reduces nitrate leaching and prevents soil erosion. Rotations and cover crops also provide a more diverse arable landscape both within and between fields increasing foraging and breeding opportunities for farmland wildlife.
  • Including grazed grass leys in the rotation is increasingly being seen as a way to improve organic matter both through the trampling of vegetation into the soil and depositing of animal manures which also provides food and habitat for larger soil organisms. The addition of compost is highly beneficial to a wide range of soil organisms stimulating activity which results in better soil structure. Sewage sludge acts like manure providing food but the high metal levels which may be present can be detrimental, killing some organisms.
  • Pesticide use has the potential to negatively impact soils. Although few pesticides have been studied for their impact on soil organisms, soil biology is likely to suffer through indirect effects. Weed losses may impact on food sources and habitats available to soil organisms. Cultural control techniques such as creating stale seed beds can help reduce the need for in crop herbicides and crop rotations are an important tool in reducing the build up of soil borne spores of fungal root diseases reducing the need for fungicides. With increasing concern over herbicide resistant weeds, cultural methods are once again seen as important. A temporary ungrazed grass-legume mix provides an opportunity to reduce blackgrass by allowing it to germinate and then mowing it as often as needed to prevent seeding. A 4-5 year ley is most effective but a ley of 2 years can still be beneficial.
yellow wagtail soil

In practice

Here are some useful case studies and articles about how farmers are putting Farm Wildlife into practice on their farms

Case study: Insecticide-free arable farming

By Kathryn Smith | 4th May 2020

Author: Martin Lines Farm: Papley Grove Farm, Cambridgeshire: 160 ha farmed in-house plus 360 ha contract farmed Aims: In 2013, my agronomist recommended that I spray for black bean aphid, but conditions were too wet and windy for a period of ten days, after which aphid numbers had dropped and ladybirds were eating them, so…

Read More

Case Study: British dung beetles – here to help

By Kathryn Smith | 15th April 2019

Author: Ceri Watkins, Co-Founder of Dung beetle UK Mapping Project Species: Dung beetles Why is farmland important for these species? There are approximately 60 species of dung beetle in the UK. They are not the ‘ball rollers’ seen in warmer countries and on TV, instead they live inside the dung pile (dwellers) or in the…

Read More

Case Study: Helping hedgehogs on farmland

By Kathryn Smith | 20th August 2018

Hedgehogs have been associated with farmland for centuries. Hedgehogs are insectivores, foraging in fields and on grassland for worms, and along field margins and at the base of hedgerows for beetles, snails and other invertebrates. They are considered a generalist species, but as the dominant habitat in the UK, farmland is particularly important for hedgehogs.

Read More

Case study: Herb-rich leys

By Kathryn Smith | 1st August 2017

Herb-rich leys were introduced into the mixed rotation at Whittington Lodge Farm to build fertility for organic cereal production. Farmer Ian Boyd talks us through the benefits for cereal production, weed control and his Hereford suckler herd.

Read More