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Hi Dean,

If the road has been salted over the winter its would of increased the salinity levels in the soil and will inhibit the release of magnesium from the soil.

I would recommend to use a low or no sodium containing fertiliser and an application of Epsom salts and Dolomite limestone.

Hope this helps,

Ian

Cheers Ian, good stuff

Did a soil test yesterday

Ph= 5.5

N = 0 depleted
P = 0 depleted
K = 4 surplus

How many samples did you test? That's a very acidic soil ubless you had a rogue sample.

Mind you, at that pH there will be all sorts of uptake problems. Usually the pH goes up a little near roads due to the limestone base, as well.

I did 3 tests one either end and one in the middle. There is a grassed field at the other side, but I reckon none of it will have ever been limed or fertilised

Sorry james, just seen this, the field is just grassed and mown every other week, cuttings are not collected

Does the grassland look acidic? (fine leaved grasses, occasional heathy plants)? Slightly off topic, sorry.

I'll have a look in the next couple of days and take a soil sample from the grassed area away from the drip line

What would be the best treatment if the tests are confirmed, would a good old shite spreading help in the short term then lime back end

One thing to bear in mind - is it permanent unimproved grassland? You might want to consider carefully before adding lime and manure if it is.

Otherwise, lime by itself may well work. Adding P will go a long way to wiping out any fungal activity, which you don't really want. It may be depleted in terms of silage production, but it's possibly fine as far as trees go. Phosphates are highly immobile in the soil.

Similarly with N, although that can deplete relatively quickly.

Hey ups Dean, check for water logging, if it's ok, then I'd just go for some organic mulching. I've seen partially rotted (not fresh) woodchip work wonders at quite a few site in our parts of the world...