Author Archives: Bonnie Hatcher

Soil Sulphur Restoration

The last 12 months have been some of the wettest on record. It is likely that this factor combined with the nutrients normally removed by cropping together with the increased straw removal this year will result in very low levels of residual soil nutrients – particularly sulphur. Sulphur is such an important element and the […]

Straw offtake and Phosphate replacement

Higher straw prices have encouraged many farmers to bale and remove straw from the field rather than chop and incorporate it into the soil. This can lead to a depletion of valuable soil nutrients along with reducing soil organic matter. It is really vital to ensure that the phosphate and potash removed in the straw […]

Carbon Declaration

A recent report has declared the carbon footprint for British produced Fibrophos PK Fertilisers are: -0.49t (negative) *CO2e per tonne of fertiliser ex Thetford -0.69t (negative) *CO2e per tonne of fertiliser ex Westfield These figures, prepared by independent SLR Consulting Ltd over the 2022/23 period, demonstrate a positive carbon benefit (negative CO2) using comparisons with […]

Fertiliser planning to avoid yield loss.

We tend to focus on the big four nutrients of nitrogen, phosphate, potash and sulphur when we consider our fertiliser planning. A shortfall of any one of these can lead to the inefficient use of any one of the other nutrients. It is therefore critical that there is sufficient of each to avoid penalties in […]

Soil pH management – to help the Environment

Maintaining optimum pH in UK soils is known to be vital for increasing productivity and reducing input costs but by doing so will also help meet the increasingly stringent environmental demands of a sustainable future. The Professional Agricultural Analysis Group (PAAG) suggests that 41% of arable soils are below the optimum of 6.5 and 57% […]

A fertiliser which delivers positive carbon savings!

Studies carried out by SLR Consulting, a private independent consulting company found that Fibrophos PK-Fertiliser and P-Grow created a significant carbon benefit to farmers when spread to land as a fertiliser. Extensive work taking into account a very wide range of factors in 2021 based on feedstock types and their source, costs of energy production […]

Improving Soil Health

Improving soil health is top of the government’s agenda in the years ahead and with input costs rising rapidly it is essential to maximise crop production which can only be done when you soils are in tip-top health. There are a number of factors which can improve the health status of your soils but reducing […]

Managing P&K for Maize

  The combination of high P&K prices and annual declines in residual soil phosphates are potentially creating a perfect storm for maize growers. Traditionally, many maize growers have relied on large volumes of slurries and other organic manures but increasing environmental concerns make these inputs more tricky to manage. It’s possible with continued soil nutrient […]