DEFRA’s soil testing incentive CSAM1 is part of the wider SFI scheme and offers £6 per hectare and £97 per SFI agreement to farms willing to test the organic matter of soil on an annual basis. This has spurred a sharp rise in soil tests and led to more farms applying for the CNUM1 £652 payment to request nutrient management plans from FACTS certified advisors.

“Our labs in England and Scotland have been very busy conducting the Fertilisation Manager test, which measures the chemical values of macro and micronutrients, soil pH and the overall structure of the soil along with biological components such as fungi and bacteria,” says Eurofins Agro’s Shane Brewer.

He further suggests that most farms are seeking to go a level deeper by learning more about the characteristics of soil.

“We have seen growing interest in the Soil Life Monitor test which determines the total microbial biomass, fungi, bacteria and protozoa. It also identifies some physical characteristics such as pH and the quality of organic matter,” he adds.

Better understanding the structure of soil will help farms to judge which crops are better suited to both the soil and growing conditions. It also acts as an indicator for how well soil can retain water.

“Recent years have shown that weather extremes can damage soil nutrient levels through leaching and leave soil less able to deal with rainfall. Testing soil each year helps to build a picture of how the soil is reacting to weather, crop choice and fertilisation decisions,” says Mr Brewer.

The SFI CNUM1 (previously NUM1) will pay £652 per agreement for a FACTS certified advisor to create a nutrient management plan. Mandy McAulay, head of marketing and product sustainability from Origin Soil Nutrition, says:

“Having soil samples that are no more than four years old is key to managing your nutrient usage more efficiently and effectively. Knowing the expected yield and crop offtake, and calculating the nutrients required after optimising organic sources, will produce a nutrient management plan that maximises nutrients and minimises waste.”

The combination of more regular soil testing and detailed nutrient management planning is hoped to improve soil health whilst reducing input costs.