At Morley we are always open to showing visitors the TMAF-supported research underway in our fields. Recently, as part of the Agri-Tech Week of events, we welcomed an inquisitive group of farmers, trustees and researchers, to see, amongst other things, what the Morley SAMS (Soil and Agronomic Monitoring Study) is showing so far. Morley Farm Manager David Jones summarises what they saw and learned.
On a still, misty morning, we set off on a quick farm tour on one of The Morley Agricultural Foundation’s (TMAF) tractor and trailers. I introduced them to TMAF and explained that it is a charity that has evolved over more than 120 years. Its current objective is to fund and support agricultural research and education relevant to East Anglian agriculture. Every year, TMAF provides £500,000 to projects and maintains close connections with NIAB, BBRO, the John Innes Centre, and various universities.
We strongly believe that research is only valuable if the knowledge is shared with others. This sharing can include hosting visits, open days, maintaining a website, publishing papers, and attending conferences. TMAF also funds short courses and offers educational bursaries.
Introducing the Morley SAMS project
The main focus of the day was the Morley SAMS (Soil and Agronomic Monitoring Study). The project involves 30 sites, each 400 square metres, spread across the farm. These sites are closely monitored for soil properties and crop performance while the fields are farmed using best commercial practices.
Now in its sixth year, the project aims to continue well into the future, documenting how as agricultural practices evolve monitoring there impacts on soil health and crop production. Weather and field records are also recorded and allow these to be linked back to measured data. Most fields have more than one monitored site capturing the spatial variation in soil properties across farm, including some headland sites, showing that even under the same conditions, different sites yield varying crop results.
Field demonstrations and hands-on learning
We moved to a field containing SAMS sites, where David Clarke from NIAB demonstrated how to do a Visual Evaluation of Soil Structure (VESS). I brought in our JCB to lift a chunk of soil, exposing its profile with visible roots and structure. We all tried assigning a VESS score in the field.
Key findings from sixth year of study
After a break for coffee and a sticky bun, I handed over to David Clarke to present some results from the first six years of the research.
One example showed how a harvested sugar beet crop affected the VESS score on headlands but returned to normal with proper management within two years. Another finding indicated a link between earthworm populations and crop yield—both tend to thrive under good conditions. The corelations and links between soil health measures and agricultural production and environmental risk where also discussed.
View David Clarke’s Morley SAMS presentation slides.
Much more to come
The aim of the Morley SAMS project is to monitor consistently and identify potential correlations over time. I explained how it is more than just research. It represents a long-term commitment to understanding and sharing knowledge to support the future of farming.
It’s always a pleasure to show visitors what is happening at Morley. It’s really good when, as with this event, I get emails soon afterwards from my visitors saying how much they enjoyed the farm tour, understanding what the research is doing and learning what it is discovering.