Further heavy rainfall over the last few weeks has cost UK farmers thousands in crop damage and land preparation. While UK farmers are accustomed to managing various weather conditions, excessive moisture from prolonged periods of wet weather can pose significant challenges.
The consequences of excessive moisture
Wet weather can lead to a multitude of detrimental effects on crops:
- Waterlogged Soil: Excessive rainfall saturates the soil, leading to waterlogging. This deprives plant roots of oxygen, hindering their ability to absorb nutrients and ultimately stunting their growth. Waterlogged soil also increases the risk of root diseases, further compromising crop health.
- Nutrient Leaching: Heavy rain can wash away essential nutrients from the soil, a process known as leaching. This depletion of nutrients, such as nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus, can adversely affect plant development and yield potential.
- Increased Disease Pressure: Wet weather creates favourable conditions for plant diseases and pests. Fungal pathogens thrive in moist environments, causing diseases like mildew, blight, and rot, which can decimate entire crops if left unchecked.
- Delayed Planting and Harvesting: Prolonged periods of wet weather can make fields too wet for machinery, preventing farmers from planting crops on time.
- Quality Degradation: Moisture can affect the quality of harvested crops, particularly grains and fruits. Excessive humidity during the ripening stage can lead to mould growth, reducing the market value and rendering the produce unsuitable for consumption or processing.
Countering wet weather challenges
There are a number of actions which can be taken to reduce the adverse effects of wet weather on crop cultivation.
Organic matter
First and foremost, soils with a higher concentration of organic matter can help the flow of water and drainage as well as retain moisture in the dryer periods. Conversely, soils with lower organic content, especially sandy ones, are more susceptible to wind erosion.
A variety of methods exist to enhance soil organic matter levels. FGS Organics offers a diverse selection of organic fertilisers tailored to meet your specific crop needs. Ranging from paper sludge and digestate to compost and gypsum, our fertilisers not only boost soil productivity but also augment organic content, thereby improving the soil’s resilience against wet conditions.
Land drainage
The addition or improvement of drainage systems can also be highly beneficial. Installing ditches and underground pipes helps remove any excess water from fields preventing waterlogging.
If you require assistance with your land drainage, our sister company FGS Pilcher have over 20 years’ experience in the land drainage, civil engineering and habitat management and would be available to help.
Crop selection
Another solution involves selecting crop varieties that exhibit greater resilience to excessive moisture. Certain perennial and pasture grasses, such as reed canary grass and bird’s-foot trefoil, thrive in wet conditions. Additionally, crops like winter wheat and perennial rye provide ground cover and efficiently utilise early moisture, often withstanding moderate ponding due to their growth staging. However, it’s crucial to ensure there is a viable market for the selected crop before proceeding with cultivation.
In summary…
Wet weather presents big challenges for crop cultivation, ranging from waterlogged soils and nutrient leaching to increased disease pressure and delayed planting. However, proactive management practices and adaptive strategies enable farmers to minimise these challenges and safeguard crop yields.
As climate change continues to influence weather patterns, the resilience and flexibility of agricultural systems become increasingly vital in ensuring food security and sustainability. By understanding and addressing the impacts of wet weather, farmers can navigate these challenges and sustainably produce crops to feed growing populations.
