AHDB Arable Soil Guide

Guidance from AHDB to help adapt arable cultivations on a rotational basis

Download the Guide, watch videos and use the tools.

Cultivation, any mechanical act to prepare the soil to raise crops, is an essential feature of many crop production systems.
In some situations, ploughing is essential; in others, virtually no soil movement delivers the desired result. Most frequently, a careful combination of biology (e.g. roots and worms) and metal is the most efficient way to manage soil structure and remove any barriers to the movement of water, air and roots.

With a spotlight on the sustainability of arable farming, our Arable soil management guide shines a light on the numerous factors that influence the need to cultivate or restructure soils.

Top ten factors to consider when adopting a managed approach to cultivations

  • Rainfall
  • Soil
  • Management
  • Drainage
  • Residues/organic matter
  • Cover/catch crop
  • Trafficking
  • Irrigation
  • Pests
  • Weeds

View the AHDB Establishment Approach Assessment Tool

 

Autumn Cultivations webinar with Harry Henderson

 

Autumn Cultivations conversations with Philip Wright

 

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Soil health has been broken down into measurable parts to help farmers optimise crop and grassland productivity. As part of the Soil Biology and Soil Health Partnership, a project in the AHDB & BBRO GREAT Soils programme, guidance and protocols have been issued to help practitioners benchmark their soils

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

The standard way to measure and monitor soils has been through soils samples taken to 15-30cm in representative W patterns. A range of technologies are now available commercially and in development to provide higher resolution data across a wider range of metrics. This page provides a space to share and discuss the available and coming tools, services and technologies.

Helping you protect your soil and improve its productivity.  AHDB's GREATSoils inititiative brings together practical information on soil management as well as links to soils research and knowledge exchange. Whether you need an introduction to soil biology or a detailed guide to improving field drainage, AHDB has information and guidance to support you. 

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.  

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

Crop establishment is a critical phase in agriculture that involves the process of establishing crops in the field to ensure their successful growth and development.

Machinery plays a pivotal role in modern agriculture, revolutionizing the way we cultivate crops and raise livestock. This technological advancement has significantly increased efficiency, productivity, and sustainability in the farming industry. Agricultural machinery encompasses a diverse range of equipment, from tractors and combines to specialized tools like seeders, plows, and irrigation systems.