Identifying barriers to routine soil testing within beef and sheep farming systems
Identifying barriers to routine soil testing within beef and sheep farming systems
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DOI：
10.1016/j.geoderma.2021.115298
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发表时间：
2021-06-25
期刊：
影响因子：
6.1
通讯作者：
Jones, David L.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Rhymes, Jennifer M.;Wynne-Jones, Sophie;Jones, David L.
农业土壤检测具有许多经济和环境效益。然而，先前的研究表明，英国相当大比例的牛肉和绵羊养殖户没有进行标准的土壤指数测试（pH值，可用的Mg， P和K）；进行更广泛的土壤测试（例如，有机物、微量营养素）的人要少得多。本研究结合了农民调查、专家访谈和英国最大的商业土壤测试实验室的5年土壤测试数据集，确定了牛肉和绵羊部门进行土壤测试的障碍和动机。与耕地和奶业部门相比，牛肉和羊养殖户采用土壤测试的证据存在差异，原因如下：(1)土壤pH值和养分失衡的程度，与不同部门的管理强度有关；(2)农民对其土壤与其产出（利润、产量、牲畜健康）之间联系的认知程度。我们表明，当与产量下降的联系更清晰时，农民更有可能参与土壤测试。我们的研究结果显示，参与土壤测试的牛肉和绵羊养殖户表现出更高的创新水平，更有可能寻求咨询支持，这通常与规模较大的农场有关。我们的数据还强调了产出驱动方法的重要性，以激发较少参与的农民对土壤分析的兴趣。我们认为，这一途径为提高农民对土壤系统的了解提供了更大的潜力，而不是主要由监管驱动的方法，在监管驱动的方法中，土壤检测成为一项强制性行动，但不会导致农场管理的后续改进。
Soil testing in agriculture is associated with many economic and environmental benefits. However, previous studies have shown that a significant proportion of beef and sheep farmers in the UK do not carry out standard soil index testing (pH, available Mg, P and K); with much fewer again carrying out more extensive soil tests (e.g., organic matter, micronutrients). This study identifies barriers and motivations to soil testing amongst the beef and sheep sector, using a combination of farmer surveys, expert interviews, and a 5-year soil testing dataset from the largest commercial UK soil testing laboratory. Evidence for differences in the adoption of soil tests by beef and sheep farmers compared to the arable and dairy sectors is explained in relation to: (1) the extent of soil pH and nutrient imbalances, linking to the intensity of management in the different sectors; and (2) the extent to which farmers perceive links between their soils and their outputs (profits, yield, livestock health). We show a greater likelihood for farmers to engage with soil testing when the links to declining outputs are clearer. Our results showed that beef and sheep farmers who did engage with soil testing showed greater levels of innovation and were more likely to seek advisory support, most often associated with larger farm sizes. Our data also highlights the importance of an output-driven approach to initiate an interest in soil analyses amongst less engaged farmers. We argue that this avenue offers greater potential for enhancement of farmers' knowledge of the soil system than a primarily regulatory-driven approach, where soil testing becomes a compulsory action but does not lead to subsequent improvements in farm management.