The pH and nutrient status of agricultural soils in England and Wales 1969–83

Abstract

SUMMARYA representative soil sampling survey of arable and grassland fields in England and Wales between 1969 and 1983 is described.The results show that of the rotationally cropped area 29% was below pH 6·5, and of the continuous grassland 46% was below pH 6·0. Levels of P and K were satisfactory except that 15% of grassland soils were low for P.Data obtained by re-sampling the same fields at intervals of 5 years show that changes in the proportions of crops grown at different levels of pH and nutrients have been small. There has been some increase in the proportion of continuous grassland at lower pH, but the proportions of soils with low P and K have tended to decrease.