Soil In Hands

Six Simple Steps for your soil to help improve the performance, health and long-term sustainability of your land

This brochure is to help ensure you are getting the best out of your soil, to create an awareness of the importance of soil quality and allow you to track changes in soil quality over time.

It is based on Six Simple Steps to help improve the performance, health and long-term sustainability of your land. In the first instance, take samples from your easiest and most productive field, and your most frustrating and least productive field. Record and map your results to build-up a long term picture of how your soil is improving and where possible take photographs of those areas prone to erosion, compaction and poaching.

Six Simple Steps for your soil:

1. Soil Structure

2. Drainage

3. Compaction

4. Soil Organic Matter Status

5. Soil pH & Nutrients

6. Biological Health

Download the guide below.

LEAF Simply Sustainable Soils Guide5 MB

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Connected Content

Soil

Soil is an essential natural resource for all farmers. Over recent years many initiatives have sought to provide information and advice on soils and Soil Health, notably AHDB Great Soils. 

Soil Health

The intricate web of relationships between physical, chemical and biological soil components underpins crop and livestock health and productivity.

LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming)

LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) is the leading charity organisation delivering more sustainable food and farming. They work with farmers, the food industry, scientists and consumers, to inspire and enable sustainable farming that is prosperous, enriches the environment and engages local communities.

NCSPulse PEP
Soil Structure

Good soil structure is vital for optimising water and nutrient use efficiency; and for sustaining profitable cropping systems. Poor soil structure and compaction can reduce yields, restrict access for field operations, increase fuel use and, for high value root and vegetable crops, increase reliance on irrigation. Where there are clear signs of soil compaction, cultivations to remove the compaction may result in a yield benefit. Visual soil assessment is important to assess the extent and depth of compaction and to inform decisions on the most appropriate course of action.  

Soil Management

Share resources, groups and projects that you've found helpful for soil management.

Soil Biology

Soil biology includes a variety of soil microbes, bacteria and larger fauna such as earthworms and collembolans.

Soil Texture

The proportions of primary particles (sand, silt, and clay) in a soil define its texture.  Silt particles range from 0.002–0.06 mm; clay is small and sand is larger, up to 2 mm.  Marked changes in texture often occur vertically through a soil profile. 

Soil Organic Matter

Soil organic matter (OM) is all living or once-living materials in the soil.  OM provides a direct source of energy/food for many soil organisms: it is the fuel in the soil food web.  Turnover of OM successively releases and immobilises elements vital to the nutrition of crops. 

Soil Classification

Soils form over thousands of years through local interactions of climate, geology, hydrology and management, giving variability in the proportion of sand, silt & clay, soil depth and what underlies the subsoil.

Soil Nutrients

Soil is a major source of nutrients needed by plants for growth.