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Soil Management

Soil Management

CSO statistical publication, , 11am

This section on soil management is a new module in the 2023 Farm Structure Survey, part of the CSO's efforts to enhance reporting on Agricultural Environment Indicators (AEI). Good quality soil supports biodiversity, contributes to carbon sequestration and storage, and provides essential ecosystem services. 

Drainage is the artificial process of removing excess surface water or groundwater to prevent flooding, achieved through surface or subsurface channels. Tillage refers to the agricultural practice of preparing soil through mechanical agitation methods, including digging, stirring, and overturning. Soil cover refers to vegetation left on the surface to cover the soil, and is used to manage erosion, enhance fertility, improve soil quality, regulate water, and can control weeds, pests and diseases. 

This chapter presents estimates for total utilised agricultural area (UAA), in hectares (ha), of arable land managed where soils are managed using various practices. Tillage measures include conventional tillage, conservation (low) tillage (which does not involve soil inversion) and the hectares of arable land where no tillage is applied between harvest and sowing. 

Drainage

In 2023, the total estimated agricultural area which was subject to drainage was 587,276 ha. Dublin had the smallest drained area, with just 4,012 ha of agricultural land under drainage. The Border region recorded the largest drained area, with 99,968 ha of agricultural land subject to drainage.

Map 10.1 Utilised Agricultural Area Subject to Drainage, 2023

Tillage Methods

In 2023, an estimated 449,901 ha of arable land were managed using conventional tillage practices. 125,094 ha of arable land were managed using low tillage practices and there was no tillage applied to 640,717 ha.

Table 10.1 Arable Land Treated by Tillage Methods

Soil Cover on Arable Land

An estimated 245,195 ha of arable land were planted with autumn-sown crops that grow throughout the winter. 109,130 ha were planted with a catch crop, intermediate crop or crop cover when the land would otherwise be bare. These plants are specifically sown to for example manage erosion, enhance fertility, improve soil quality, regulate water, and control weeds, pests, diseases, and support biodiversity.

An estimated 84,744 ha of arable land were covered with plant residues or mulch (e.g., straw incorporation) during winter. 65,744 ha of arable land were tilled post-harvest and left bare, with no plant cover.

Table 10.2 Arable Land Area Subject to Soil Cover