Soil Sample

[MSW farming]

HI everyone
I'm new to the forum and new to farming arable but I need some good advice. We have a small parcel of land and want to grow wheat and barley next year. I have taken a soil sample and it is the following: PH 6; Phosphorus 7 ; Potassium 116; Magnesium 226.
Is there urgent action I should be taking and is there a way of reducing actual chemical inputs and being more organic in the way i improve my soil? Welcome any advice from the experts! Many thanks Johnny

 

[teslacoils]

Apply muck.

 

[MSW farming]

Apply muck.

 

[MSW farming]

 

[Cab-over Pete]

Good advice. You can’t beat a heap of muck.

You do need a good dollop of phosphate I reckon. What are the actual indices? They will be numbered from 0 upwards and you really want 2-3. Don’t get hung up on them though, they are only an indication of soil reserves.

A pH of 6 could do with a bump up. Maybe 1.5t per acre of lime to get it to around 6.7. However, oats will grow in any low pH and wheat is less susceptible than barley and brassicas, which can suffer at pH 6.0.

How many acres? Some products can become uneconomic at small acreages. I don’t like that, but I suppose it’s just modern farming.

 

[MSW farming]

Thanks very much for this kind bit of advice.
I've just ordered a heap of muck for the approx 100 acres we have. I will check the indices.
Lime i shall put down in the spring - we are intending to grow wheat and barley if possible.
YOur advice has been great and i am v grateful
Thank you

 

[Cab-over Pete]

Where do you order a heap of muck from?

 

[Steevo]

Where do you order a heap of muck from?

Some of the big chemical companies can supply bullpoo in large quantities....

 

[Simon Chiles]

Good advice. You can’t beat a heap of muck.

You do need a good dollop of phosphate I reckon. What are the actual indices? They will be numbered from 0 upwards and you really want 2-3. Don’t get hung up on them though, they are only an indication of soil reserves.

A pH of 6 could do with a bump up. Maybe 1.5t per acre of lime to get it to around 6.7. However, oats will grow in any low pH and wheat is less susceptible than barley and brassicas, which can suffer at pH 6.0.

How many acres? Some products can become uneconomic at small acreages. I don’t like that, but I suppose it’s just modern farming.

You forgot to ask him whether he was local to you, you could have been sorting his lime situation out.

 

[Cab-over Pete]

He’ll feel the pull, drawing him in.

 

[hally]

ah. Jedi knight lime spreader.........feel the force

 

[teslacoils]

Thanks very much for this kind bit of advice.
I've just ordered a heap of muck for the approx 100 acres we have. I will check the indices.
Lime i shall put down in the spring - we are intending to grow wheat and barley if possible.
YOur advice has been great and i am v grateful
Thank you

Is the soil sandy, clayey, stoney etc?

Are you wanting to plant wheat and barley this autumn, or next spring, or next autumn?

 

[yellow belly]

HI everyone
I'm new to the forum and new to farming arable but I need some good advice. We have a small parcel of land and want to grow wheat and barley next year. I have taken a soil sample and it is the following: PH 6; Phosphorus 7 ; Potassium 116; Magnesium 226.
Is there urgent action I should be taking and is there a way of reducing actual chemical inputs and being more organic in the way i improve my soil? Welcome any advice from the experts! Many thanks Johnny

for 100 acres you would need to sample each 10 acres as the variation could be the biggest problem you have
you could find half is high and half is low which would make a big difference to your fertiliser needs