The Importance of Analysing Soil and Plant Health

In this episode, we're joined by Jim Carswell, Agrii's R&D Manager in the North, and Peter Southwell, a farmer on the South of the Yorkshire Wolds near Market Weighton.

Today, we're discussing how analysing soil and plant health can help enhance crop performance.

The Importance of Leaf Tissue Analysis

Tony Smith:
Jim, why is leaf tissue analysis important for crop performance?

Jim Carswell:
We advise starting with a broad-spectrum soil analysis, but this only tells you what nutrients are present in the soil, not what's available to the plant. Various factors, such as soil structure and weather, can affect nutrient uptake. That's why monitoring nutrient levels throughout the season via leaf tissue analysis is key to optimizing productivity and nutrient efficiency.

Practical Application of Leaf Tissue Analysis

Tony Smith:
Peter, how long have you been using leaf tissue analysis, and what results have you seen?

Peter Southwell:
We started about five years ago. Even though our soil tests didn’t show deficiencies, our plants exhibited nutritional deficits. By applying additional nutrients based on the analysis, we’ve gradually increased the frequency of testing as we see positive results.

Timing and Frequency of Analysis

Tony Smith:
Jim, what are the key timings for conducting leaf tissue analysis?

Jim Carswell:
For cereals, we suggest sampling at GS00 (pre-emergence), GS30 (stem extension), GS31 (first node), and GS39 (flag leaf). It’s important to monitor nutrient levels at these stages to ensure plants reach optimal nutritional status during the critical growth phases.

Handling the Analysis

Tony Smith:
Peter, do you conduct the sampling yourself or does your agronomist do it?

Peter Southwell:
Sometimes I handle it myself; other times, my agronomist does it. It’s a time-consuming process, but it’s a great way to get a closer look at the crop and assess its condition in the field.

Analysing and Acting on Results

Tony Smith:
Once you receive the analysis results, Peter, how do you use that data to fine-tune your nutrient applications?

Peter Southwell:
We’ve built a picture over the years. Our farm tends to be deficient in copper, zinc, and magnesium. We use the data to tweak our nutrient applications accordingly. Sometimes, we get surprises, like seeing a calcium deficiency on calcium-rich soil.

Impact of Nutrient Deficiency on Yield

Tony Smith:
Jim, what impact can nutrient deficiencies have on yield?

Jim Carswell:
It can vary depending on the nutrient and environmental factors. For example, in one trial, we applied foliar calcium at GS39 on winter wheat, which resulted in a 0.24 tonne per hectare yield increase. By identifying gaps through leaf tissue analysis, we can correct deficiencies and improve crop performance.

Building Resilience Through Analysis

Tony Smith:
Jim, can this approach help build resilience into crop production?

Jim Carswell:
Yes, although resilience is built over time through other factors like improving soil organic matter and structure. Leaf tissue analysis helps fine-tune the nutrient management on a seasonal basis, ensuring optimal crop health.

Peter’s Farm Experience

Tony Smith:
Peter, you mentioned earlier about enhancing crop performance. How has this approach improved your farm's productivity?

Peter Southwell:
We’ve seen a noticeable improvement in the performance of our poorer fields. The thinner soils are now behaving more like the better soils, raising the overall farm average yield. It’s definitely enhanced productivity and helped close the gap between our lower and higher-performing fields.

Grain Sampling for Forward Planning

Tony Smith:
Jim, tell us about grain sampling and how it fits into the overall nutrition plan.

Jim Carswell:
Grain sampling is the final piece of the jigsaw. It tells us how well our nutrition program performed over the season and helps plan for the next crop. For instance, phosphate levels in grain can indicate if we’ve over or under-applied phosphate during the growing season.

Call to Action: Key Takeaways

Tony Smith:
What would be your top tip for listeners looking to adopt this approach?

Jim Carswell:
Start with broad-spectrum soil analysis, followed by leaf tissue analysis, and end with grain analysis. It gives you a complete picture and helps optimize crop nutrition. Yes, it takes time, but the economic benefits from improved yields far outweigh the effort.

Tony Smith:
And Peter, from your perspective, what would you advise other farmers?

Peter Southwell:
If you haven’t tried this technique, start with one field. Take tissue samples at key growth stages and apply the necessary nutrients. Then, take grain samples at the end of the season and compare the results. You’ll likely see a noticeable improvement.