Farmer improves soil quality by using green manure and min-till

The soil quality at one farm near Hereford has been enhanced thanks to an integrated system of cultural, biological and chemical methods.

Around one-third of the 200-hectare Stretton Court Farm is home to 250,000 ornamental trees in production for the amenity landscape and wholesale customers of arboreal firm Wyevale Trees.

Having begun his 25-year lease of the land in 1988, company managing director Chris Mason has since focused on improving soil quality for cropping in order to make tree production commercially viable at the same time as advancing combinable yields.

"Trees grow best when soil indices are maintained at two for phosphate and potash," he told the Farmers Guardian.

"We take soil nutrition seriously and test before, during and after each tree crop."

In related news, ScienceDaily last week reported that research published by the International Journal of Environment and Waste Management had found that roads with too many trees planted close together could have a damaging impact on air quality.

Written by Lauren Steadman