A new soil analysis and nutrient planning service, designed to help farmers gain a deeper understanding of their soil and account for plant available nutrition, is now available.

Known as SoilSense, the service goes above and beyond a standard soil test, offering a comprehensive overview of soil health at a physical, biological and chemical level.

See also: Take-all seed treatment benefits winter wheat, reveals trial

Developed by agronomy group ProCam in collaboration with Eurofins Agro UK, the testing service analyses a range of important soil traits that can help growers get the most form their soil. This includes:

• Factoring in plant available nutrients
• Testing organic matter as a standard
• Improved nutrient management plans and accuracy of nitrogen needs by accounting for carbon, organic matter and biology levels
• Long-term carbon sequestration/soil health strategies by considering a soil’s physical and biological profile 
• Determining microbial biomass, microbial activity and fungal/bacterial ratios.

“Current soil testing practices may provide information on soil nutrient levels, but these figures do not necessarily reflect what’s available to the plant,” explains ProCam technical development manager Rob Adamson.

“SoilSense aims to provide information on both plant-available and soil-stock nutrient levels using a range of key nutrient extraction methods to give a more in-depth understanding of soil,” says Rob.

He continues that the service will be a available in a range of tiers, each designed to give a better understanding of farmers’ key asset.

Basic, standard, premium and ultra packages are available alongside biological testing as an additional package bolt on.

Users will be provided with detailed reports, with on-hand agronomist advice to assist with data interpretation and provide practical nutrient and soil solutions.

Sophie Cath, business development manager at Eurofins Agro Testing UK, adds that standard routine soil tests only encompass P, K, Mg and pH, which often limits soil management.

“Using modern testing methods, such as near-infrared spectroscopy, calcium chloride weak extraction and phospholipid fatty acid analysis, faster turnarounds and more accurate sampling methods can be achieved,” she says.

Farmers interested in the new soil service should contact soilsense@procam.co.uk.