Land: Soil
Further information: FAQs
- What is a farmer supposed to do when harvesting maize in very wet conditions?
- How can I find out the grade of my land (soil)?
- How do I import soil?
- What are the accepted heavy metal concentrations/PAH levels for soils?
- What Soil Guideline Values (SGV's) are in existence? Where can I obtain a copy?
- How can I test my soil?
- I am concerned by the impacts turf production is having on local soils. What regulations are in place around this practice?
What is a farmer supposed to do when harvesting maize in very wet conditions?
Defra intends the term "Waterlogged soil" to mean fully saturated soil, where the entire plough-layer is filled with water by virtue of a high water table or perched water above a compacted sub-soil. If soil really is waterlogged you should not harvest maize until conditions improve. Consider using a more suitable field for growing this crop in the future or grow an earlier maturing variety.
How can I find out the grade of my land (soil)?
Published Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) maps are available at 1:250,000 scale from Defra Publications (Tel: 08459 556000) or see the MAGIC website. Other ALC information, including more detailed surveys for selected locations in England, is available from Natural England by telephoning 01284 717608.
A leaflet explaining the ALC system can be found on the publications pages. If a new ALC survey is needed this should be undertaken by a competent soil surveyor using the current methodology in "Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales: revised guidelines and criteria for grading the quality of agricultural land" (MAFF,1988).
How do I import soil?
You may import soil into the UK from other EC countries without the need for any plant health documentation. Soil from continental Europe (excluding Belarus, Estonia, Moldavia, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine), Egypt, Israel, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia may be imported into the EC provided it is accompanied by a Phytosanitary ("plant health") Certificate which can be obtained from the Plant Health Authority in the exporting country.
The import of soil from all other countries is prohibited. Soil which is normally prohibited may be imported under a Plant Health Licence for scientific research only, and these licences involve strict containment and destruction rules. An explanatory leaflet on Plant Health Import Licences (PHI 1) is available.
What Soil Guideline Values (SGV's) are in existence? Where can I obtain a copy?
Soil Guideline Values will help to answer the question "Does the soil concentration of contaminant X pose a significant risk to human health?". Further information on Soil Guideline Values is available on the Environment Agency website, where each SGV is also published.
What are the accepted heavy metal concentrations/PAH levels for soils?
Policy on land and soil contamination can be found on the contaminated land pages.
How can I test my soil?
Defra does not undertake soil testing and we cannot recommend any particular company to do so. Soil testing will be undertaken by most local environmental laboratories which can be found in phone directories or on the internet, etc.
I am concerned by the impacts turf production is having on local soils. What regulations are in place around this practice?
If you have concerns about the effects of turf production on local soils, your first point of call should be your local Environment Agency office or your local authority, who may be able to take action to encourage better soil management should erosion, run-off or off-site impacts be occurring as a result of this practice.
Paragraphs 16 and 55-57 of the Soil Code relate to turf production and the removal of surface soil, indicating that soil removal should be kept to a minimum and repeated cutting from the same area should be avoided.
Turf cutting may require consents before work commences. Local Planning Authorities should be consulted if there is any doubt as to whether the activity could be regarded as a commercial activity. Proposals may also require an application under the Environmental Impact Assessment (uncultivated land and semi natural areas) (England) Regulation.
Page last modified:
27 June 2007
Page published: 1 September
2005