Applying Soil Health in Arable Systems

A one-day course on the application of the soil health principles, to your arable or mixed operation.
Next upcoming course: 25th May 2020



ABOUT THE COURSE

Learn what the soil health principles are, where they are gleaned from and how their application improves- and creates soil crumb structure.

Watch video for details

The soil health principles work, from large farms to market gardens, when implemented doggedly they bring real results: better soil structure, healthier crops and more consistent yields. What’s more, the growers that have applied these principles the most rigorously have the more profitable operations today.

Soil Health Principles

1 Living Root – for as Long-/as Often as Possible

2 Covered Soil – with Residues or Living Plants

3 Minimise Disturbance/Compaction – Tillage

4 Maximise Diversity – in Rotations/Plantings

5 Feed Soils – with Organic Matter (Between Cropping)

6 Incorporate Animals – Ideally Adaptive Grazed

7 Minimise Use of Chemicals/Synthetics

Soil Health Principles

1 Living Root – for as Long-/as Often as Possible

2 Covered Soil – with Residues or Living Plants

3 Minimise Disturbance/Compaction – Tillage

4 Maximise Diversity – in Rotations/Plantings

5 Feed Soils – with Organic Matter (Between Cropping)

6 Incorporate Animals – Ideally Adaptive Grazed

7 Minimise Use of Chemicals/Synthetics

Phasellus accumsan quis est et scelerisque. Donec massa lorem, placerat nec varius nec, semper vitae risus. Pellentesque sed lacinia elit, eu porttitor est. Phasellus tempor varius lacus eu vulputate. In porttitor, felis quis lobortis hendrerit, mauris mi porttitor orci, ac laoreet libero leo ac sem. Vestibulum sodales tortor magna, eget blandit diam cursus eu. Aenean imperdiet accumsan ipsum eget molestie. Nam eu ultrices lacus. Morbi fringilla vitae turpis vel bibendum. Nam nec accumsan sapien. Nunc eget aliquam lorem. Fusce ac ante ac quam consequat pharetra. Nunc mollis arcu commodo velit hendrerit, sit amet elementum ligula semper. In mollis lorem mattis velit lacinia, non mattis mauris hendrerit. Morbi lacinia sapien et ultrices laoreet.

Nulla vitae commodo sem, a scelerisque quam. Nam hendrerit velit at ante pretium feugiat. Mauris feugiat vel magna non mattis. Mauris sit amet urna sodales, ornare metus at, pulvinar sem. In a tincidunt diam. Nam feugiat at ipsum at ultricies. Sed ut fringilla nulla, eget scelerisque enim. Etiam venenatis urna nec ullamcorper malesuada. Aliquam lorem enim, fringilla quis suscipit ut, congue nec quam. Aenean vulputate orci eget metus efficitur, eget tincidunt odio bibendum. Etiam vel elit massa. Donec fermentum nunc eget turpis porta dignissim. Duis malesuada imperdiet leo, sit amet tristique lacus faucibus sed.

Topics/Structure

Regenerative Agriculture – The Broader Context

The imperative
4 Ecosystem Processes

Empirical case for good soil management

How different strategies affect soil structure
Reducing grade-outs and crop failures
Minimising moisture stress

Defining soil health

How it’s articulated and how to measure it

Soil Health Principles

What they are & the processes that underpin them
Empirical evidence of their application on farm

Evidencing soil health

Aggregation, spade tests, visual soil inspection

Aggregation and crumb structure

What creates it, and how to maximise

Nutrient Cycling

Fostering nitrogen fixation for all crops

One Key Insight

Microbes Matter

Best Practice Management Solutions

Cultivation systems
Cover crops

Sign-Posts & Practical Tips

Case studies
Monitoring & trials
What to do this season

Course Details

Runs for two mornings 9am – 1.00pm

Session 1: Presentations

Regenerative ag & soil health principles

Session 2: Workshop/Exercises

Analysis of soils on your operation,
Applied principles

Soilmentor Access

When enrolled you will be given complementary access to a Soilmentor account for use on the course, for: recording soils observations and sharing data with the tutor, for feedback and analysis on session 2.