As crops are harvested, growers are urged to consider conducting an electrical conductivity (EC) survey of their fields with a view to creating management zones.

“It’s a one-off scan of your fields that gives an indication of soil type, and how this varies within fields,” explains Stuart Alexander of Agrii’s Soilquest service.

“They provide a basis for tailoring the management of the crop much closer to its potential.

“The ideal time to survey is soon after harvest, ideally before the ground is moved.”

The Veris conductivity scanner, used by Agrii, touches the soil with six discs and measures the variance with the fields down to 90cm deep allowing the Soilquest team to create the management zones across the field.

Tech Talk in the July issue of CPM has detailed advice on soil management zones, how they are set up, and what they can be used for.

“The more the zones are used, the more data can be gathered,” points out John Lord of Soilquest.

“The information can be used to inform how management practices are refined going forward, and so the benefits build year-on-year.”

More information, including a step-by-step guide to building management zones and case studies, can be found at www.soilquest.co.uk.

The July issue of CPM also rounds up the highlights of recent open days and events, including first impressions from disease trials and blackgrass control.

There’s essential information on cabbage stem flea beetle and seed dressings, and we cast a critical eye on grain co-operatives and other off-farm grain storage options.

Tillage tackle, and whether to go deep or shallow is weighed up, and we’ve been to the Great Plains UK base at Sleaford to find out about the Centurion drill and the company’s plans for the future.