Soil Inversion for Biodiversity

As land use and agricultural requirements change and the need to improve or increase coverage of biodiverse habitats becomes more important, previously cultivated soil stocks can be reconditioned and repurposed for native flora species propagation.

Years of intensive agriculture has produced nutrient rich topsoil horizons which are unsuitable for native wildflower species. High residual soil fertility can lead to more robust weed species dominating over re-introduced native flora.

Using our Fendt 930 Vario tractor and ERMO FSV2 1004ML inversion plough, we are able to invert, or essentially bury these nutrient rich soils including any unfavourable species seed banks deep within the soil bed. This in turn brings lower nutrient but more favourable soil mediums to the surface. Wildflower seed can then be sown into this low nutrient soil and not have to compete with existing seed banks of more vigorous but undesirable species.

The planting of trees into inverted soils has also been proven to give improved growth rates and species strength. Trees generally like high nutrient laden substrates but can access the deeper interred nutrient rich layer whilst not having to compete with other undesirable species. The buried nutrient layer helps to promote deeper root growth giving tree species a better foundation for growth & stability.

At Legacy Habitat Management, we can offer a complete package of soil preparation and reconditioning by deep plough inverting to reseeding with suitable native species helping to achieve biodiversity net gains. Bringing our Amazone Catros 3003 Cultivator with Sumo Seeding Unit we can harrow the freshly exposed topsoil layer and distribute seed stock giving the best possible chance of seed take up.

Creating wildflower, grassland and native flora coverage provides the foundation for rich, biodiverse wildlife habitats. Such habitats encourage insect and invertebrate populations that provide vital food for larger fauna species, and support the all-important pollinators that ensure continuity of flora species in host stock and other nearby reserves.

With Biodiversity Net Gain forming a compulsory part of the Environment Bill, the reconditioning of soils for native wildflower and grass species can make a huge contribution to existing wildlife habitat assets and create measurable wildlife gains that can help to satisfy Biodiversity Net Gain Management Plans.