Thane Goodrich of New Downs Farm, Kent, is a specialist salad grower whose sandy soils are susceptible to wind erosion.
New Downs Farm has encountered problems with wind blow and nutrient leaching because of the lack of organic matter in its soils. But Thane can’t graze sheep or use farmyard manure – both are ruled out by strict technical specifications from customers aimed at preventing microbial contamination. Irrigation has compounded the problems facing the farm, causing runoff and soil loss.
Using a cover crop
The solution has been to plant a cover crop of winter barley to stabilise the soil. The cover crop is sprayed off and left in the ground until salad crops are planted. Before planting the salad crops, Thane inverts the barley leaf and root structure with a rotary cultivator to incorporate organic matter into the soil.
This method improves soil structure and helps prevent nutrient leaching. But it also saves money. Changing from plough-based cultivations to a cultivator-drill system can cut crop establishment costs by 25-40 per cent.
Reducing erosion and runoff
Best Farming Practices offers guidance on how to understand your soils, improve their structure and reduce erosion and runoff.
The key to reducing runoff is understanding the risks to soil on the farm and planning land use and cultivations accordingly. By using the right cultivations at the right time and changing stocking rates in line with weather conditions, you will reduce the risk of damaging soil structure. You will also help to stop losses of soil and nutrients to rivers and streams.
The risk of runoff can also be reduced by planting grass buffer strips and woodland belts; drilling early; undersowing spring crops with a cover crop such as grass or mustard; and avoiding high-risk crops on steep slopes. Avoid cultivation, harvesting, grazing and slurry spreading in wet conditions, all of which can make soils vulnerable to compaction.
Improving your soil
You can improve your soil by increasing organic matter content and using the right cultivations at the right time. Incorporating organic manures or crop residue can help improve the structure and waterholding capacity of the soil and provide nutrients for plant growth.
Contour ploughing and a rough soil surface both slow down runoff and help improve infiltration. Subsoiling when the soil is dry can help improve drainage in soils that have been identified as compacted.
