Monitoring soil health on farms key to sustainable agriculture, says CAFRE

Monitoring and improving soil health is vital for sustainable food production, according to the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE), which is encouraging farmers to assess not just the chemical but also the physical and biological aspects of their soils.

“Good soil health is a term which is often used, but to assess soil health we must consider the chemical, biological and physical aspects of the soil, which are all linked,” said Sinéad Mathers, Technologist at CAFRE.

“Proper functioning of the soil depends on all three aspects working together. To optimise and better understand soil health, it must first be measured to get a starting point.”

CAFRE measures soil health across its farms

In autumn 2024, CAFRE launched a project to assess soil health across its farms at Greenmount Campus and Glenwherry. Alongside routine chemical soil analysis, two simple physical and biological indicators were used: the Grass Visual Evaluation of Soil Structure (VESS) and earthworm counts.

“It was decided a Grass VESS evaluation and completing worm counts would be two methods of analysis that could be compared across the different fields,” explained Sinéad. “VESS can give a clear assessment of soil structure, while the worm counts provide a guide to the biological health of the soil.”

Three soil pits measuring 20x20x30cm were dug in each field, with GPS coordinates recorded.

“It is important to pick a representative number of places in a field to assess or measure, as fields can vary in their slope and soil type,” Sinéad added.

The results were scored using the AHDB soil health scorecard, benchmarking each field’s physical and biological condition.

Initial findings and farm action

A total of 54 fields were assessed, covering:

• 20% of fields at the Beef and Sheep Centre

• 22% of grassland fields at the Dairy Centre

• 35% of arable fields

• 14 improved in-bye fields at the CAFRE Hill Farm

Of these, 48% had good soil structure, 50% were moderate, and 2% had poor soil structure.

Earthworm numbers were generally typical or intermediate, particularly on the beef and dairy platforms. On the arable platform, 84% of fields had good or intermediate worm numbers.

However, two arable fields showed low earthworm counts and moderate soil structure—indicating a need for intervention.

In one such field, CAFRE Crops Technologist Tanya Maguire and the Farm Team sowed a cover crop of leafy turnip and fodder rape in September 2024 following the winter wheat harvest.

Before sowing, the soil was described as “moderate and platy” with large aggregates and low porosity. After three months, worm counts had risen and soil structure improved significantly, showing smaller aggregates and more pore space.

“Having a living root in the soil to feed soil biology and improve soil structure will carry over to the next crop,” noted CAFRE.

Funding support for arable farmers

Farmers with land designated as arable on LPIS can now apply for support under DAERA’s Farming with Nature Transition Scheme, which is open until 4 August.

The scheme offers £225/ha to establish multi-species winter cover crops, helping to improve both soil health and water quality. Applications can be submitted via DAERA Online Services for those without a live EFS agreement.

Soil health: a cornerstone of sustainability

Healthy soils offer numerous benefits, including enhanced nutrient cycling, better water retention, and valuable ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration and climate regulation.

“Farmers must consider carbon, phosphorus, water quality, ammonia and biodiversity whilst also producing food sustainably and profitably,” CAFRE advises.

Soil type, cultivation methods, drainage, crop rotation, livestock movement and machinery usage all impact soil health. Regular assessments using VESS and worm counts are simple, low-cost, and provide valuable insights.

Autumn and spring are the best times to conduct earthworm assessments, and farmers seeking advice on monitoring physical and biological soil health are encouraged to contact their local CAFRE Adviser.