Why soil assessment should come before cultivations

Arable farmers face significant cultivation choices this autumn about how much – or indeed whether – to cultivate soils. The dry conditions of 2025 mean that over-working soils could lead to structural damage.

Crop production specialist Hutchinsons technical manager Dick Neale urges growers to put soil conditions at the forefront of decision-making.

“Decisions around cultivations this autumn need to be more strategic than routine. Let soil condition, not the calendar, dictate operations,” he says.

See also: Advice on managing grassweeds after low pressure season

Monitoring soils 

“The first consideration is whether to work the soil at all. Be patient. Consider leaving soil restructuring to nature rather than reaching for a big bit of metal,” says Dick.

Minimal intervention is often best, he says. “Where cultivations are required, the seed-bed need not be more than a couple of inches deep.”

For example, a full-depth cultivation may cost about £90/ha, yet a targeted low-disturbance loosening pass at £30/ha could achieve a better result.

Given the year’s dry conditions, checking soils carefully before any action is vital and can save unnecessary costs.

A visual evaluation of soil structure (Vess) test, ideally carried out in early spring when soils have re-wetted, allows farmers to spot signs of compaction, assess rooting, and judge changes in aggregation and colour.

“Remember, healthy soil smells ‘sweet’, unhealthy soils can give off a noticeably stagnant aroma. It’s the biology your smelling,” he says.

Tramlines and compaction

Another key point is the management of tramlines. Dick notes that there is often no point in removing them.

“Tramlines provide valuable access year-round, and with GPS and matched-width machinery it’s easy to reuse the same lines.

“Removing them risks overworking the entire field, raising unweathered soil, creating clods, and leaving zones prone to recompaction.”

Healthy soils between tramlines may not have been trafficked for years, allowing root networks, fissures, and earthworms to build strong natural structure.

While an over-aggressive pass risks undoing years of natural soil development, an under-aggressive pass can be just as damaging.

“Failing to address compaction properly still costs as much as doing it right – but without the benefit,” he warned.

Farmers on lighter soils also need to tread carefully. “Over time, such soils may acidify in the upper profile, creating the need for occasional deeper cultivation.

“This can help mix more alkaline subsoil into the top layer, reducing acidity in a way that may be more sustainable than repeated lime applications.”

Beyond mechanical options, cover crops offer another route to improved soil condition, he suggested.

“Deep-rooting species such as brassicas, linseed, vetch, lucerne, chicory, and plantain can help break through compaction layers and redistribute nutrients vertically.

“However, identified compaction zones should be addressed with appropriate cultivation rather than rely on roots alone.

“Establishment need not be costly, with 10-12kg/ha of seed often sufficient to protect soil, improve infiltration, and maintain biological activity over winter.”