Irish Owned
Padraig Shevlin | Plant & Soil Solutions
As we are now in September it’s a good time for all farmers to start to consider soil sampling fields to allow planning for next season to commence. The autumn and winter months present an ideal opportunity for farmers to take samples. The key factors to bear in mind when taking samples is to avoid taking samples ideally until 8 weeks after the last nutrient application, let that be organic or chemical fertiliser and 12 months since the last bulk lime application.
Decisions on what fields to sample can be based on a number of factors, these could include:
- Fields with poor grass growth during the current season.
- Fields that had reduced palability or poor clean out of paddocks.
- Nutrient management – to target organic manures to the most appropriate fields.
- Below par grain yield.
- Targeting better nutrient use efficiency; more balanced chemical fertiliser compounds.
- Improving the overall soil health and the impact of our nutrient applications to the environment.
As a company, Plant & Soil Solutions works closely with the McLaughlins Farmcare team to offer a more bespoke soil analysis service; from the most comprehensive test on the market – the Albrecht soil analysis, to the slimmed down version that still supplies the base saturation of our major cations in the soil (Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium and Sodium) and the trace elements that are integral for all farming systems.
These results are then backed up by Plant & Soil Solutions tailored recommendations for each individual crop. This could be grassland, cereals, vegetables, potatoes through to daffodils.
The McLaughlins Farmcare team will be able to discuss with you the most appropriate analysis to suit your requirements.
