The autumn rains are here and it’s time to talk soils. They are often forgotten but here in the South West healthy soils are fundamental to the success of our farming, our rivers and our livelihoods.
A #RiskAquaSoil thread👇
1/
Soils take thousands of years to build and are the accumulation of dead and dying organic matter mixing with the underlying geology. Because of this there are 753 different soil types in England and Wales and all have subtly different characteristics.
2/
In the South West this includes freely draining light sandy brown soils lay over a permeable geology and can absorb vast quantities of water, but this also means they are prone to nutrient leaching.
/3
In the South West this includes freely draining light sandy brown soils lay over a permeable geology and can absorb vast quantities of water, but this also means they are prone to nutrient leaching. /3
In the South West this includes freely draining light sandy brown soils lay over a permeable geology and can absorb vast quantities of water, but this also means they are prone to nutrient leaching. /3
The slowly draining surface water gley soils are quick to saturate and slow to drain. The high clay content in the subsoils mean they hold water and nutrients longer, and when saturated generate a lot of natural over land flow and are easy to compact.
4/
The slowly draining surface water gley soils are quick to saturate and slow to drain. The high clay content in the subsoils mean they hold water and nutrients longer, and when saturated generate a lot of natural over land flow and are easy to compact. 4/
The slowly draining surface water gley soils are quick to saturate and slow to drain. The high clay content in the subsoils mean they hold water and nutrients longer, and when saturated generate a lot of natural over land flow and are easy to compact. 4/
The moorland and hillside podzol soils are high in organic matter and can be very permeable, but compaction can generate significant run off due to the increased rainfall at altitude.
5/
The moorland and hillside podzol soils are high in organic matter and can be very permeable, but compaction can generate significant run off due to the increased rainfall at altitude. 5/
The moorland and hillside podzol soils are high in organic matter and can be very permeable, but compaction can generate significant run off due to the increased rainfall at altitude. 5/
Well managed soils can not only produce food but also store carbon and regulate water flow, but if mismanaged they can become damaged. In the South West it is estimated that 38% of our soils suffer from severe degradation. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/sum.12068 6/
Well managed soils can not only produce food but also store carbon and regulate water flow, but if mismanaged they can become damaged. In the South West it is estimated that 38% of our soils suffer from severe degradation. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/sum.12068 6/
Well managed soils can not only produce food but also store carbon and regulate water flow, but if mismanaged they can become damaged. In the South West it is estimated that 38% of our soils suffer from severe degradation. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/sum.12068 6/
This degradation not only causes a reduction in crops and soil bound nutrients, but also localised flooding, pollution and smothering of river and estuary habitats.
7/
This degradation not only causes a reduction in crops and soil bound nutrients, but also localised flooding, pollution and smothering of river and estuary habitats. 7/
This degradation not only causes a reduction in crops and soil bound nutrients, but also localised flooding, pollution and smothering of river and estuary habitats. 7/
The costs of soil loss is not only born in part by the farmer but the rest of society who pay through increased water treatment bills, flood recovery bills and harbour dredging as well as reduced aquatic species like salmon and shellfish
8/
The costs of soil loss is not only born in part by the farmer but the rest of society who pay through increased water treatment bills, flood recovery bills and harbour dredging as well as reduced aquatic species like salmon and shellfish8/
The costs of soil loss is not only born in part by the farmer but the rest of society who pay through increased water treatment bills, flood recovery bills and harbour dredging as well as reduced aquatic species like salmon and shellfish8/
But something can and is being done to help, but at its heart is a need to understand the type of soil you are farming and its inherent qualities. From their tailored solutions can be found to protect your soils and our livelihoods.
9/
By working in partnership, the Devon and Cornwall Soils Alliance is building understanding across the South West on the vulnerability of our soils #RiskAquaSoil
/10
You can follow @LaurenceWRT.
Tip: mention @twtextapp on a Twitter thread with the keyword “unroll” to get a link to it.

Latest Threads Unrolled:
There are a lot of misconceptions about the Turkish diaspora in Germany. Since i just finished writing an essay about this topic I thought it's time to give other people
Read more
Las mejores calculadoras online en 2020A thread http://totumat.com/2020/11/26/las-mejores-calculadoras-online-en-2020/ Cuando se estudian asignaturas que requieren de cálculos complicados, nada mejor que contar con una buena calculadora.
Read more
Mitigating #ClimateChange is as much about taking up new techs as about leaving others behindMost studies focus on #coal's global downfall but another #energy tech decline is loomingRead my new
Read more