With the huge increase in growing forage maize to feed anaerobic digesters, especially in the arable areas of Eastern England, it seems appropriate to consider the harvested offtakes of phosphate and, especially, the high amounts of potash removed.

Soil sampling for the routine measurement of P, K, Mg indices and pH is familiar to most advisers and farmers, with the same well-proven method used for many years. But how are things different where minimum cultivation is practised?