Project update: April 2020 - Hendre Ifan Goch
Following the advice of Gareth Davies; Russell and Rhys of Hendre Ifan Goch have been busy aerating the fields, as well as applying farmyard manure (FYM) and the recommended lime applications to help speed up the mobilisation of the soil biology, to start releasing the bank of nutrients within the soil.
Video 1. Liming at Hendre Ifan Goch
Image 1. Assessing for compaction in the soil. Soil compaction occurs when soil particles are pressed together over time, reducing pore space between them.
Image 2. Farmyard manure spread on trial fields
Images 3 & 4. Aerating involves perforating the soil with small holes to allow air, water and nutrients to penetrate the grass roots; this helps the roots to grow deeper and produce a stronger and more vigorous crop. The main reason for aerating is to alleviate soil compaction. Rhys and Russell have been using the below machine, a Watson aerator.
Where next?
- Gareth to visit the farm later in the season to walk the fields and dig more holes to see if deeper investigation needs to occur.
- Another common factor shown in the soil sample results are the low levels of Boron, therefore adding granular Boron to each of the fields will be considered next.
- Adding a Phosphorous stimulating Nitrogen based product would be an option, to help speed up the mobilisation of the soil biology, and start releasing the bank of nutrients within the soil
- Completing a whole farm carbon audit using a carbon footprint calculator.