Grass & Forage
Correct soil compaction after wet weather
• Less air and water movement through soil • Poor fertiliser uptake and more leaching • Check fi elds early before spring work
L
ivestock farmers who hav- en’t yet done so should get to grips with soil sampling
this month to tackle any issues that might be lurking beneath the surface of grass fi elds.
ri Dawson said: “The impact of prolonged periods of rain on soil structure should not be underes-
timated. Just one inch of water, across one acre of land, equates to around 22,000 gallons of wa- ter, and weighs approximately 100 tonnes.”
This additional weight can lead to compaction, which in turn leads to other issues. Short-term, compaction can reduce the car- rying capacity of land for live- stock or vehicles. Long-term, it can lead to poor soil health and a loss of productivity of between 10 to 20%.
Compaction also means less
air and water movement through soil. This causes poor fertiliser up- take and more nutrient leaching. Compacted soil will also be colder
Soil sampling can uncover a range of issues
A wet start to 2018 is likely to Grass is greener at Grassland UK event
have left some farmers with un- seen issues – especially compac- tion, says the forage grass team at Barenbrug UK. This is espe- cially so on farms which suffered a wet autumn last year, it adds. Barenbrug UK research and development manager Mhai-
Exhibitors and organisers are gearing up for this year’s Grass- land UK, due to be in Somerset on 10 May.
Held on a working farm, Grassland UK 2018 will cover every aspect of forage production – from seeds to feeds – with ma-
chinery demonstrations, a tech- nical advice area, seminars, si- lage clamp demonstrations and trade stands from all sectors of the industry. The one-day triennial event attracts more than 8000 visi- tors, showcasing a vast array of
machinery demonstrations over the 40ha site. Visitors will able to see the latest equipment in ac- tion, learn about new grass vari- eties and technology, and speak to experts on any related topic. For details,
visit www.
bathandwest.com/grassland-uk.
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“CAPTURING THE NUTRITIONAL VALUE IN FEEDS IS THE KEY TO PROFIT.”
46 ANGLIA FARMER • MARCH 2018
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