Careful nutrient management can save time and money and improve returns, yet only a quarter of thousands of samples analysed as part of a recent study were at target index.

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Farmers in selected river catchment areas will receive their project packs in the post from EBLEX and have until February 7 to return their soil samples.

Overall in 2009/10, just 29% of 300,000 grassland soil samples analysed were at target index for phosphate, dropping to 26% for potash (PAAG, 'Collation of Data from Routine Soil Analysis').

If nutrient levels are high, time and money can be wasted applying manure or fertiliser that isn't needed and the risk of water pollution can be heightened.

If they are low, grass yields and financial returns will be suffering.

Yet only 27% of LFA and 37% of lowland grazing farms regularly test their soils, compared to 94% of arable farms, according to the Defra Farm Practices Survey.

Jim Egan, Technical Director of FWAG said: "We are delighted to be working with EBLEX and the Environment Agency on this joint project which we hope will encourage more beef and sheep farmers to test their soil and ultimately improve their returns”.

Research shows that small changes, like moving the pH from 5.5 to 6 through the application of lime, can increase yields by as much as 9%. Only one in 30 fields monitored for grass growth in the EBLEX GrassWatch project last year had perfect soil test results - pH 6.0-6.6, P2 and K2 .

Of 300,000 soil samples tested last year, 44% were above the ideal Index 2 for phosphate and 29% were above the target index 2 for potash.

EBLEX is co-ordinating nine nutrient management workshops in February and March where local FWAG advisers will discuss the results from farmers in the area. Visit www.eblex.org.uk/events for information or call 0870 609 1840.