Analysis: action needed to preserve the nation's soils - farmers weekly

Everyone loves a good headline – and recent reports on the state of the nation’s soil have provided some rich pickings. “Only 100 harvests left in UK farm soils”, “APPG uncovers more dirt on

UK soils”, “Drought could degrade best agricultural land by 2050s” – these are just some of the headlines to have graced the pages of _Farmers Weekly_ in recent months. But what is the real

cause of soil degradation? We examine the issue, the role farming has to play and what solutions may be available. See also: 7 ways growers can improve soil health © David Burton

/FLPA/Imagebroker/Rex Shutterstock STARK WARNINGS Government reports have been sprouting like mushrooms this year, and all carry a similar message – the future of the UK’s soils is in

jeopardy. For example, research by the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has shown more than 5m hectares of “high-grade” farmland could be downgraded over the next 40 years. The biggest

effect will be on peat soils, which will be affected by water shortages. “The most fertile areas of Britain depend on peat topsoils,” said Lord Krebs, chairman of the CCC’s adaption

sub-committee. “Three-quarters of the topsoil has disappeared within the past 150 years and that disappearance is being accelerated by climate change.” INCREASED RISK OF FLOODING The House

of Commons Environmental Audit Committee (EAC), made up of MPs, has delivered some equally stark messages. Its report, called simply _Soil Health_, was published in early June and warned

that failure to prevent soil degradation could lead to increased flooding, lower food security and greater carbon emissions. In particular, it pointed to the worrying effects of soil erosion

and the decline in soil carbon levels since the 1970s. “Soil degradation could mean that some of our most productive agricultural land becomes unprofitable within a generation,” said EAC

chairwoman Mary Creagh. ‘WORRYING LACK OF KNOWLEDGE’ The most recent report, however, has been produced by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on AgroEcology for Sustainable Food and

Farming, which collated evidence from the NFU, Soil Association, Rothamsted Research and Cranfield University. It suggested the UK “places little importance on soil, resulting in a worrying

lack of knowledge about this vital asset,” and complained that current government policy did not reflect the importance of soil for producing 95% of the food we eat. “Healthy soil is vital,”

said Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer, who led the inquiry. “Failure to tackle current problems will lead to catastrophic environmental, economic and social breakdown. Reversing the loss

of soils, along with restoring knowledge and interest in soil, are essential first steps to sustainable food production.” MAKE SOILS A PRIORITY The surge of interest in soil loss and

degradation has been welcomed by lobbyists and scientists alike. Prof Bridget Emmett from the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology in Wales said it was essential soils were given the priority

they needed as the government drew up its 25-year environment plan (now delayed due to Brexit). “We have to ensure that soil is not just another add-on,” she said. “Until now, things such as

biodiversity, air quality and water have been prioritised, as there are EU directives covering these. Soil has been a Cinderella, and this must change.” Georgia Farnworthy, policy officer

at the Soil Association, said it was “hugely encouraging” that politicians were showing a commitment to the protection of soils.  “Farmers need the right advice and best-practice guidelines

for improving soil organic matter and reversing the dramatic loss of agricultural soil that has devastated the nation in recent flooding,” she said. In particular, she praised the

acknowledgement by both the EAC and the APPG that maize growing can have negative effects on soil condition. INVESTMENT IN RESEARCH Meanwhile, Prof Phil Haygarth, a soil scientist from

Lancaster University, has stressed the need for continued government investment in soil research. “Soils are arguably the most complex systems on Earth, but are intimately linked to human

security and the integrity of the wider environment,” he said. “Any lack of recognition of this in terms of funding is just short-sighted and will inevitably lead to environmental and

societal problems.” WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF THE PROBLEM AND WHAT PART DOES FARMING PLAY? The APPG report looked at a number of different factors contributing to the UK’s soil problems:

FARMING METHODS * Downward pressure on prices has encouraged farmers to try to increase outputs while reducing inputs. Combined with shorter tenancies, this is encouraging short-termism *

Growing crops for energy can exacerbate soil degradation, especially maize when it is not managed properly * Poor farming practices – such as inappropriate irrigation, short rotations,

overuse of heavy machinery and selecting the wrong land for certain crops – can all contribute to soil erosion, compaction and loss of organic matter EDUCATION AND TRAINING * There has been

a lack of research into soil science in recent years, with no courses being offered below post-graduate level * This has led to gaps in knowledge, especially about rates of soil degradation

and its effects * Advisory services are now privatised and farmers are less willing to pay for advice on soils * Farmers are also reluctant to take advice because the benefits of good soil

management take years to come through, whereas the costs are immediate SOIL TESTING * Biological tests, such as soil organic matter (SOM) content or worm counts, are the most useful

measures, but the hardest to achieve * There is no national survey looking at soil loss, while measuring soil compaction is tricky * Individual farmers collect data, but it is not shared

CLIMATE CHANGE * Farming is a major contributor to climate change, accounting for about 10% of greenhouse gas emissions * Agricultural soils can also act as a carbon sink, but government

policy does not give sufficient encouragement WHAT ARE THE SOLUTIONS? Having spelt out the problems about soil degradation in agriculture, the APPG report does offer solutions. * Farmers

should be given financial incentives to apply good farming practice, such as growing more legumes, applying manure, improving rotations and encouraging more extensive livestock grazing * The

good agricultural and environmental conditions (GAEC) that accompany cross-compliance need beefing up * Incentives should be provided for agroforestry to improve soil organic matter and

offset the effects of monocropping, such as maize grown for energy use * Farmers should be encouraged to form networks so they can share best practice * Farm advisers should take a more

proactive role in promoting soil health * Soil should be given a higher priority in education and then extended to farm level * Soil testing should be a requirement at the beginning and end

of tenancy agreements ( * National targets should be set to increase soil organic matter WHAT’S SO WRONG WITH MAIZE? © Tim Scrivener Maize gets a rough ride in many of the reports on soil

degradation. The most pointed comments are made in the EAC’s Soil Health inquiry, which questions the rapid growth in the UK cropped area – up 20% between 2008 and 2014, with much of this

used to feed anaerobic digesters for energy production. The biggest danger is erosion, it explains, with widely spaced plants and compacted, bare soil inbetween being a recipe for disaster

when combined with heavy rain. Water often fails to penetrate the soil and just washes it away into watercourses, the EAC said. But there are mitigating measures that can be taken, as

spelled out by the Country Land and Business Association. “Using early-maturing varieties, sowing as early as possible and planting under plastic can reduce the risk of harvesting in poor

conditions later in the year,” it said. “Chisel ploughing, undersowing and cover cropping can reduce run-off compared with leaving maize stubble untouched.” Despite this, the EAC criticised

the fact that maize grown for AD plants effectively benefits from a double subsidy – collecting money from the Basic Payments Scheme and a second renewable energy premium, for example the

Renewable Heat Incentive. It therefore calls for the latter to be restructured to either exclude maize, or at least impose conditions on how it is grown. Soil expert Prof John Quinton from

Lancaster University agrees. “But it is also important to highlight the need for adopting soil conservation practices when growing other crops with a high water-erosion risk such as

potatoes, sugar beet and outdoor pigs,” he said. SOIL ASSOCIATION’S “7 WAYS TO SAVE OUR SOILS” In February this year the Soil Association published a seven-point plan to help improve soil

health. It suggests: * Increase the amount of plant and animal matter going back into fields * Improve soil health monitoring across the UK * Encourage soil organisms – both those that build

up soil and those that release nutrients * Cover up bare soil with continuous plant cover * Grow more trees on farmland * Reduce soil compaction from machinery and livestock * Design crop

rotations to improve soil health The Soil Association has set a target to increase organic matter in UK arable and horticultural soils by 20% over the next 20 years as part of its Soils

Campaign. In partnership with AHDB Horticulture, it has also launched a series of workshops on soil health for horticultural growers under the GREAT Soils project, starting off in Cornwall

on 21 September. See www.soilassociation.org for more details. DID YOU KNOW THAT…. * Most fields are experiencing erosion rates of up to 1t/ha/year in the UK, faster than the rate of soil

regeneration. (Asda/Leaf) * It is estimated that 2.9m tonnes of soil is eroded each year in the UK, equivalent to 66,000 lorries. (Adas) * Soil erosion equates to an estimated £9m in lost

food production each year (Cranfield University) * It takes about 500 years to form just 2.5cm of topsoil. (Defra) * In 2016, 55% of holdings had a nutrient management plan, the lowest level

since 2009. Just 36% of farmers keep track of soil organic matter. (Defra) * About 300,000ha of soil are contaminated due to the UK’s industrial past (EAC) * The total economic cost of soil

degradation – including erosion, loss of organic matter and compaction – is put at £1.2bn/year, with 20% borne by farmers (Cranfield University)