“Even the best seed can only perform as well as the soil it’s planted in.”
Healthy, productive grass crops don’t happen by chance, they start from the ground up. While seed choice plays a vital role in yield and quality, the condition of the soil beneath it ultimately determines how well that seed can perform. From nutrient availability and root development to long-term persistency and profitability, soil health underpins every successful grass ley. Understanding and managing soil chemistry and structure is therefore essential to getting the best return from every field and every seed sown.
The Importance of Soil Health
At the heart of every productive grass crop lies healthy soil. We’re committed to providing our customers with high-quality grass and forage seeds, using recommended list varieties in our mixtures to ensure excellent yield potential and disease resistance. However, even the best seed can only perform as well as the soil it’s planted in. Without proper soil care and attention, results will likely fall below expectations, and yields can decline year after year.
“Grass seed is an investment - make sure your soil is in top condition before the seed ever hits the ground.”
Soil Chemistry: Getting the pH Right
A healthy, productive soil should have a pH of around 6.5. In practice, aiming for 6.5 usually means achieving a realistic level of 6.0–6.2. Soil pH has a huge impact on how efficiently plants can absorb nutrients. For example, at a pH of 5.8 or lower, phosphate availability to the plant drops by about 30%- and since phosphate is key for strong root development, this can seriously limit performance, especially in dry years. To correct acidity, ground lime is a cost-effective option, though it typically takes around two months to influence soil pH. Prilled lime, on the other hand, works much faster and can help bring soils into the optimum range almost immediately.
Soil Structure: The Foundation of Productivity
Soil structure is just as important as pH. Poor structure can cause a host of problems, reduced yields, poor nutrient uptake, weed ingression, weak establishment, and declining persistency, to name a few. Identifying problem areas and digging more holes to understand what’s going on below the surface can make a significant difference to productivity, yield, and overall profitability.
Every Grass Crop is a Cash Crop
Whether you’re growing a long-term grazing ley or a short-term, fast-growing cutting mixture, every grass crop represents a valuable investment. The healthier and more vigorous your plants are, the better the metabolisable energy (ME), dry matter yield, and overall crop quality.
How We Can Help
We offer basic soil testing kits or a complete soil testing service, including pH measurement, structural assessments, and tailored advice on how to improve productivity in your fields. We recommend carrying out soil testing at least three months before reseeding any field. Grass seed is an investment , make sure you’re getting the best possible return by ensuring your soil is in top condition before the seed ever hits the ground.
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