Soil Results
In 2018 Teagasc analysed a total 45,157 soil samples comprising of dairy, drystock and tillage enterprises. 42,067 soil samples were from grassland farms with 21,676 from dairy farms and 19,801 soil samples from dairy farms. The following is a summary of the main changes for soil pH, phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in 2018.
Dairy
- 59% of soils with a soil pH >6.2
- 56%of soils at P index 1 & 2 (4% Decrease)
- 48% of soils at K Index 1 & 2 (11% Decrease)
Drystock
- 43% of soils with a soil pH >6.2
- 63%of soils at P index 1 & 2 (4% Decrease)
- 52% of soils at K Index 1 & 2 (10% Decrease)
Soil pH levels improvements have remained relatively stable in 2018 (see figure 1) with 54% of soils in the optimum range for soil pH on grassland soils.
Figure 1. Proportion of soils analysed which fall into each soil pH range across all farm types. Based on total of 223,000 soil samples analyzed by Teagasc between 2014 and 2018.
Soil P levels show small improvements on both dairy and drystock farms with a 4% decline in soil testing at soil P index 1 & 2. Soil K levels show significant improvements of between 10 and 11% in 2018. This maybe a reflection of the targeted application of organic fertilisers plus the application of straight potassium as muriate of potash (50% K).
Overall all farm enterprises have made progress in relation to soil fertility over the last couple of years. Soil fertility on dairy farms showed that approximately 18% of soil samples with the optimum mix of pH, P and K for grass production. Drystock farms showed that 11% of samples with good overall soil fertility. These poorer results on drystock farms may be influenced by a number of factors such as lack of profitability, lower fertilizer use, lower feed demand and need to maximise grass production especially where stocking rates are low. While the majority of these overall soil fertility improvement has resulted from positive changes in soil pH across all farming enterprises there are also indications that soil K, and possibly P, are also improving.
Soil Fertility Data 2018
All Soil Results and Enterprises 2018(PDF)
County Specific Data:
Carlow 2018- Cavan 2018- Clare 2018- Cork 2018- Donegal 2018- Dublin 2018- Galway 2018- Kerry 2018 - Kildare 2018- Kilkenny 2018- Laois 2018- Leitrim 2018 - Limerick 2018- Longford 2018 - Louth 2018- Mayo 2018-Meath 2018- Monaghan 2018- Roscommon 2018- Sligo 2018-Tipperary 2018- Waterford 2018-Westmeath 2018- Wexford 2018
Soil Fertility Data 2017
All Soil Results and Enterprises 2017 (PDF)
County Specific Data:
Carlow 2017 - Cavan 2017 - Clare 2017 - Cork 2017 - Donegal 2017 - Dublin 2017 - Galway 2017- Kerry 2017 - Kildare 2017 - Kilkenny 2017 - Laois 2017- Leitrim 2017 - Limerick 2017 - Longford 2017- Louth 2017- Mayo 2017 - Meath 2017- Monaghan 2017 - Roscommon 2017 - Sligo 2017- Tipperary 2017 - Waterford 2017 - Westmeath 2017- Wexford 2017 -
Soil Fertility Data 2016
All Soil Results and Enterprises 2016
County Specific Data:
Carlow 2016 - Cavan 2016 - Clare 2016 - Cork 2016 - Donegal 2016 - Dublin 2016 - Galway 2016 - Kerry 2016 - Kildare 2016 - Kilkenny 2016 - Laois 2016 - Leitrim 2016 - Limerick 2016 - Longford 2016 - Louth 2016 - Mayo 2016 - Meath 2016 - Monaghan 2016 - Offaly 2016 - Wicklow 2016
Soil Fertility Data 2015
County Specific Data:
Carlow2015 - Cavan2015 - Clare2015 - Cork2015 - Donegal2015 - Dublin2015 - Galway2015 - Kerry2015 - Kildare2015 - Kilkenny2015 - Laois2015 - Leitrim2015 - Limerick2015 - Longford2015 - Louth2015 - Mayo2015 - Meath2015 - Monaghan2015 - Offaly2015 - Roscommon2015 - Sligo2015 - Tipperary2015 - Waterford2015 - Westmeath2015 - Wicklow2015 - Wexford2015
Soil Fertility Data 2014
County Specific Data:
Carlow - Cavan - Clare - Cork - Donegal - Dublin - Galway - Kerry - Kildare - Kilkenny - Laois - Leitrim - Limerick - Longford - Louth - Mayo - Meath - Monaghan - Offaly - Roscommon - Sligo - Tipperary - Waterford - Westmeath - Wicklow - Wexford