With harvest underway earlier than usual across the UK, farmers have a critical window of opportunity to conduct strategic soil assessments that could significantly impact next season's profitability. As beans and peas are already in the shed and combines continue rolling through fields nationwide, now is the time to evaluate and optimise one of the farm's most valuable assets.

Recent data analysis from Yara's analytical services has revealed concerning trends in UK soil health, with 30% of soils currently sitting at index two for both phosphate and potash levels. More critically, 20% of analysed soils are operating at dangerously low index zero or one levels, representing high-risk areas where significant yield penalties could occur without intervention. Additionally, 40-50% of soils are functioning at suboptimal pH levels of 5.0 to 5.5, particularly within grassland systems, creating conditions where nutrient availability becomes compromised.

These figures mean real yield penalties and wasted investment across thousands of acres for UK farmers already facing weak crop prices and weather-related yield pressures. The sector experienced a double stress scenario this year, beginning with excessive moisture that leached nutrients down soil profiles, followed by one of the driest springs on record that severely limited nutrient uptake through compromised root systems.

Using data to make strategic economic decisions

This window for comprehensive soil analysis provides farmers with the data needed to make profitable decisions in a tough economic environment. Analysis shows that soil testing above index two allow farmers to safely cut nutrient spending and capitalise on previous fertiliser investments, while the 20% of soils showing critically low levels require urgent intervention to avoid yield losses far exceeding the cost of treatment. "With likely poorer yields than hoped for and challenging crop values, economics really need focus to maximise returns for the next season. Finding fields where you can safely reduce inputs while identifying areas that need investment is the difference between profit and loss in challenging years," says Mark Tucker, Food Chain Business Manager for Europe at Yara. 

Farmers are encouraged to go beyond basic nutrient analysis and include soil metrics increasingly important for sustainability reporting and long-term farm viability. This includes organic matter testing, which provides the simplest baseline for tracking soil health improvements over time, and measuring soil respiration, which offers insights into biological activity that supports sustainable farming practices.

However, soil testing is only the starting point of nutrient management. Linking soil results to leaf analysis during the growing season verifies that laboratory predictions match real-world plant uptake. Soil tests mimic nutrient availability, but plants reveal whether nutrients are actually being used. Collecting grain samples from specific fields further completes the picture, providing data on nutrient uptake and performance. This integrated approach creates a robust feedback loop that helps farmers continuously optimise nutrition programmes and maximise returns on fertiliser investments year after year. 

pH management is critical for nutrient optimisation   

Focusing on pH may seem basic, but it's the foundation for every other decision. When levels fall below the critical threshold of 6.4, even the most generous fertiliser applications struggle to deliver results and nutrient uptake is compromised, meaning farmers invest in inputs their crops simply can't access. Without correcting pH first, nutrient investment is wasted. 

Solutions exist beyond traditional lime applications. For high pH soils where phosphate availability suffers, switching to foliar applications can bypass soil limitations entirely. The key is understanding specific soil constraints and developing management strategies that work with existing conditions rather than against them.

In modern systems using min-till or zero-till practices, standard sampling approaches don't work. These systems create nutrient stratification, layers of concentration in the top few centimetres of soil, which can produce misleadingly high readings if sampling is done incorrectly. The key in these situations is sampling to the rooting zone, not just the surface layer. 

Soil is the key to unlocking farm potential 

For farmers, soil is the most valuable asset on the farm and is the key to unlocking its potential. This early harvest offers farmers an opportunity to assess their situation while they have time, use economics to guide where to invest and save, and build the data foundation that's essential for sustainable, profitable farming. "It all starts with soil testing, and the question shouldn't be whether you can afford to test, it should be can you afford not to, especially when the data shows such widespread variation in soil status across UK farms," Mark adds.