Only 100 harvests left.

[llamedos]

Study shows soil in urban areas is actually much more fertile on average than the intensively over-farmed UK countryside.

Intense over-farming means there are only 100 harvests left in the soil of the UK’s countryside, a study has found.

With a growing population and the declining standard of British farmland, scientists warned that we are on course for an “agricultural crisis” unless dramatic action is taken.

Despite the traditional perception that there is a green and pleasant land outside the grey, barren landscape of our cities, researchers from the University of Sheffield found that on average urban plots of soil were richer in nutrients than many farms.

Sampling local parks, allotments and gardens in urban areas, Dr Jill Edmondson showed that the ground was significantly healthier than that of arable fields. Allotment soil had 32% more organic carbon, 36% higher carbon to nitrogen ratios, 25% higher nitrogen and was significantly less compacted.

Professor Nigel Dunnett, also of the University of Sheffield, said that in order to ensure we can produce food for future generations we must start to see towns and cities as the future of farming.

He has established a scheme in the centre of Sheffield to transform a piece of wasteland into an “eco-park”, and is among five projects shortlisted to win a grant from the Big Lottery Fund through the Grow Wild initiative, led by the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...0-harvests-left-in-our-farm-soil-9806353.html

More here http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/news/nr/allotments-could-be-key-sustainable-farming-1.370522

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.12254/pdf

 

[grumpy]

that is rubbish

 

[Darren]

How am I going to get the challenger topdown combo into some of those gardens??

 

[Gone Shooting]

Utter twoddle - its like having a sell by date on a bottle of water.

 

[RobFZS]

better turn my rideon mower in to a combine then D:

 

[llamedos]

Interesting concept, and one that is being taken up by several towns already, but it is not going to feed the masses.

 

[willy]

I think it is mega overstating, however I do think most farmers don't really know much about their soil and how to look after it.

 

[Renaultman]

that is rubbish

Exactly. More is being done to improve soil health and fertility now than has been done in my lifetime

 

[Netherfield]

By the time that comes around it will have been built on anyway.

 

[grumpy]

Exactly. More is being done to improve soil health and fertility now than has been done in my lifetime

aye ask @The Ruminant soil condition is as good as any time

 

[SilliamWhale]

Sounds like they are looking for funding for something. I think farmers are doing quite a decent job of trying to turn the ship around on these matters at the moment with limited research, but there is no doubt that we have lived off a bit of natural capital in past 100 years

 

[rob1]

Study shows soil in urban areas is actually much more fertile on average than the intensively over-farmed UK countryside.

Intense over-farming means there are only 100 harvests left in the soil of the UK’s countryside, a study has found.

With a growing population and the declining standard of British farmland, scientists warned that we are on course for an “agricultural crisis” unless dramatic action is taken.

Despite the traditional perception that there is a green and pleasant land outside the grey, barren landscape of our cities, researchers from the University of Sheffield found that on average urban plots of soil were richer in nutrients than many farms.

Sampling local parks, allotments and gardens in urban areas, Dr Jill Edmondson showed that the ground was significantly healthier than that of arable fields. Allotment soil had 32% more organic carbon, 36% higher carbon to nitrogen ratios, 25% higher nitrogen and was significantly less compacted.

Professor Nigel Dunnett, also of the University of Sheffield, said that in order to ensure we can produce food for future generations we must start to see towns and cities as the future of farming.

He has established a scheme in the centre of Sheffield to transform a piece of wasteland into an “eco-park”, and is among five projects shortlisted to win a grant from the Big Lottery Fund through the Grow Wild initiative, led by the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...0-harvests-left-in-our-farm-soil-9806353.html

More here http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/news/nr/allotments-could-be-key-sustainable-farming-1.370522

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.12254/pdf

No wonder its fertile its all the dog shite thats left about.

Hardly rocket science is it, lets take a soil sample from some arable ground that has been growing crops for many years and compare it with some land that hasnt had any nutrient take off for a similar length of time.
Question 1How many guesses will it take to guess which has higher fertility.
question 2 Why the hell do these people get funding to ask such a effing stupid question in the first place
question 3 WTF do I bother to read these threads when it will just make me bang my head against the wall

 

[llamedos]

If I didnt post these threads, your life would be too peaceful, all this stress keeps you all on your toes

 

[rob1]

If I didnt post these threads, your life would be too peaceful, all this stress keeps you all on your toes

Yes that is true, might have to start an argument over central grain storage to relieve the boredom, pan mixer anyone?

 

[grumpy]

If I didnt post these threads, your life would be too peaceful, all this stress keeps you all on your toes

dunno i seldom read links just post thats rubbish on a regular basis,seems to work,then just see posted by @llamedos then think would i wouldnt i then think hmm oh hell yes

 

[nick...]

that is rubbish

You took the words out of my mouth
Nick...

 

[Old Boar]

I see the soil tested was arable. How about testing soil that has had animals grazing it? Bet that has more nutrients. Oh, how about that! Just come up with an idea that could attract a grant!
The more the Urban folk try and grow their own food, the more they may appreciate the farmer.

 

[grumpy]

do folks still have allotments now a days?

 

[Hilly]

do folks still have allotments now a days?

Yes they do. Grass is they key just some go a long winded way around to discover this.

 

[Old Boar]

Both my daughters have allotments. See - I did teach them something!