Member Article

North East firm making the most of soil

North East farmers are leading the way in transforming Britain’s soil after experts revealed a sharp decline in its quality.

Scientists have said Britain’s arable soils are critically low in organic matter meaning crops can’t be sustained. As a result, the region’s farmers have turned to a greener solution to improve their agricultural soil.

Premier Waste, a North East waste management company, has so far made over 18,000 tonnes of compost, and by using compost made from plants, farmers can replace nutrients that were taken from the soil by growing the crops and can complete the natural cycle without harming the land.

Dr. Brian Chambers, member of Premier Waste’s Scientific Advisory group, said: “Soil organic matter is fundamental to the maintenance of soil quality and sustainable crop production.

“Compost provides a valuable source of stable organic matter that will improve long-term soil quality and fertility and the economics of crop production.”

The compost that Premier uses is made from green waste received from businesses and local authorities across the North East. Garden waste, plant clippings and grass cuttings are then composted in windrows at the companies’ base in Durham.

By using the compost farmers are also saving on average £100 per acre by using this version rather than the normal mineral fertilizers.

Den Blewitt, Premier Waste’s Compost Manager, added: “Britain’s soils hold more carbon than all trees in Europe and are the building blocks of life. We need to retain their quality and one way to do this is put back in to the soil what was taken from it.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .