Improving soil management with reduced inversion farming at Preston Hall Farm

Key points

• Experience over the years has shown that avoiding working wet soils and avoiding conventional ploughing helps to reduce the risk of compaction, particularly on the farm’s heavier, less well drained soils.
• Successful alleviation of soil compaction (e.g., using subsoilers) can be challenging, so avoiding compaction in the first place is important.
• Establishing cover crops on the farm can be challenging due to the short window in autumn but when established well, the fibrous rooting from the black oats and the phacelia’s long tap roots improves soil structure.
• A green manure, following overwinter stubbles, comprised of crimson and Egyptian clover, vetch and phacelia produced tremendous results. After removing the thick biomass cover (e.g., through rolling), good soil structure and organic matter content aided direct drilling.
• Over the last 20 years, the farm has minimised conventional ploughing, used cover crops and incorporated more straw back into the soils. These practices improve soil structure and reduce the risks of diffuse pollution.