The Soil Nutrient Health Scheme is the largest baseline soil sampling programme ever undertaken. It is being managed by AFBI and due to the scale and complexity of the scheme, it is being rolled out on a zonal basis with all the zones completed by 2026. All farmers will be given the opportunity to join the scheme.
Zone 1 Training by CAFRE is now available to all participating farmers in zone 1 who have received their analysis report by email/post. The training will assist with understanding nutrient management, the role of carbon and completing a nutrient management plan, please visit CAFRE Training.
Soil Analysis results there has been clarification around Code G which some farmers have noted on their analysis report.
Soil Sampling
Sampling in Zone 1
Sampling commenced in Zone 1 in November 2022 throughout County Down and parts of Counties Armagh and Antrim. The programme has sampled in excess of 138,000 fields by the beginning of May 2023. This is unprecedented and dwarfs the numbers taken as part of any previous national soil sampling programme.
Watch the video below to find out more about the sampling process.
Zone 2Registration
Zone 2 launch date 26 June 2023
Farmers will be able to register for Zone 2 from 26 June - 31 August 2023. Farmers will be notified if they are eligible for Zone 2, covering the remainder of farms in Co Armagh which were not included in Zone 1 and all of Co Fermanagh and the remainder of farms in South Tyrone. Information on when farmers within the other zones 3 and 4 can register, will be provided in due course. Pictured L-R: Colleen Ward (Project Manager, AFBI) Dr Rachel Cassidy (Principal Scientific Officer, AFBI), Debra Castles (Communications Officer, AFBI), Pieter-Jan Schön (Director - EMSD, AFBI)
SNHS Benefits
The SNHS is one of the most comprehensive regional soil nutrient sampling schemes to be undertaken anywhere in the world. With the potential to sample approximately 700,000 fields it will provide the farmers of Northern Ireland with:
Detailed information on the nutrient status of their soils
Runoff risk maps for nutrient loss to waterbodies for each field sampled
Estimates of carbon stored in their soils and as above ground biomass for each farm
Training on the interpretation of soil nutrient reports and generation of farm nutrient plans (provided by CAFRE).
This information will allow farmers to optimize the application of crop nutrients to their soils and help increase farm profitability. This will result in a reduction in nutrient loss to waterbodies thereby contributing to achieving the targets of the Nutrient Action Programme. It will also provide a baseline assessment of farm carbon stocks in soils and hedgerow and contribute to the transition to Net Zero farming in Northern Ireland.
Carbon Research - LiDAR
Capturing LiDAR Data
A high-resolution LiDAR scan of Northern Ireland will provide a basis of modelling activities to estimate above ground biomass held in trees, woodlands and the 120,000 km of hedgerows in the region. SNHS is also gathering information on rates of soil C sequestration in grassland fields on selected commercial farms and along undisturbed field boundaries on different soil types in Northern Ireland (involving radio-carbon dating and soil microbiological assessments). Ongoing research will investigate how fungal and bacterial communities are affected by management and elucidatemechanisms and processes governing changes in soil C storage in grassland and hedgerow soils. Information arising from this research will be used to update the UK soil C inventory, and to identify management strategies which enhance C capture by soil and above ground biomass.
Contacts and Further Information
If you would like any further information please contact our office by telephone (028 90 255 212) or SNHS@afbini.gov.uk.
