NRM has extended its BASIS Classroom soil nutrient analysis series with a module on soil carbon, livestock manure, and slurry.
Developed by NRM’s agronomy team the course aims to help advisers and farmers move beyond basic soil nutrient analysis and gain a deeper understanding of soil health and nutrient management planning.
The second module focuses on understanding laboratory analysis data covering the analysis of livestock manures and slurries for organic matter (SOM) and organic carbon (SOC), providing the skills needed to interpret lab results and apply them in practical nutrient planning.
“Organic materials and carbon play a vital role in soil health,” said Dr Sajjad Awan, soil & crop nutrition agronomist at NRM and co-author of the course. “Taking care of SOM and SOC through careful management and regular analysis helps improve the functioning of our ecosystems, increase the soil’s capacity to produce food, and protect water and air from pollutants.
BASIS reports that the statistics from module 1, ‘Laboratory Analysis 1: Soil Nutrients’, were excellent, with 97% of candidates who had taken the course stating that it was either good or excellent.
‘97% of candidates said they would find the information from module 1 useful when working in a practical context. This is exactly what we hope for, as this is what these courses and BASIS Classroom are all about,’ said Thomas Vaughan, commercial manager & environment lead at BASIS. ‘Additionally, of this number, 68% reported that the course was excellent.”
‘Laboratory Analysis 2: Soil Carbon, Livestock Manure, and Slurry’ is available exclusively for BASIS members as part of BASIS Classroom, and will be available for 12 months. Participants who complete the 30 minute course will earn two CPD points, enhancing their expertise and helping maintain professional credentials.
