Independent agronomic and environmental laboratory analysis for land-based industries.


NRM is the UK’s largest independent provider of agronomic and environmental waste analysis for land-based industries. We offer water, soil, manures, fertilisers and plant tissue analysis to farmers, growers and agronomists for improved farm productivity, as well as land-based environmental services including composted waste, anaerobic digestate, effluents and industrial renewables.

Our highly skilled team delivers comprehensive, timely and accurate results to customers. We also develop innovative high quality tailored suites of tests to meet specific needs.

Analysing soil mineral nitrogen to help farmers save money and optimise crop production


Autumn crop establishment, winter rainfall, and soil temperature all impact spring soil nitrogen supply (SNS). It’s best to measure soil nitrogen levels in spring before applying fertiliser to determine how much soil nitrogen remains after winter.

This will help growers save money by tailoring their nitrogen applications to only apply what is needed. Nitrogen fertiliser (34.5N%) currently costs around £1/kg (£350/t), so reducing nitrogen rates by 25kg N/ha will save around £25 per hectare.

NRM’s N-Check package enables farmers and their advisors to calculate how much additional nitrogen is needed to meet crop nutritional requirements for optimal yield. Options include N-Check, which adds a total value for combined soil depth, and N-Check Plus, which offers a complete solution for growers wishing to assess their Soil Nitrogen Supply (SNS). By following the RB209 Measurement Method, the SNS index can be reported if an estimate of spring crop nitrogen has been supplied. We also provide technical details explaining your results.

Soil Analysis

Analysing soil for nutrients and parameters such as phosphorus, nitrogen, pH, trace elements and organic matter allows farmers and growers to test and benchmark soil health and tailor their fertiliser requirements to optimise crop nutrition and yield. As the UK’s largest agricultural soil testing facility, NRM analyses over 450,000 soil samples every year for basic nutrients. Each year we produce a soil summary of the year’s results as well as an interactive map enabling you to drill down by region.

Our services range from standard soil analysis to our CarbonCheck service for soil carbon level analysis, and our comprehensive trace element suite. Our N-Check service helps you understand the nitrogen content of your soil to save you spending money on expensive fertiliser where it is not needed. We also develop specific tests and analytical suites for unique data requirements.

Tissue Analysis

Plant tissue analysis is key to understanding the nutrient content of your crops before deficiencies become yield limiting. Undertaking plant tissue analysis alongside soil analysis enables farmers and their advisors to identify nutrient and trace element deficiencies in the plant and adjust their crop nutrition plans accordingly.

CropCheck is the next innovative step in plant tissue analysis. This service, which is for a broad range of cereal crops, links nutrient values to the growth stages that coincide with the fertiliser application window. Your results will show where your crop is compared with where it should be at that key growth stage, enabling you to adjust your fertiliser plans if necessary, potentially saving you money.

Our GrainCheck service for cereals, oilseeds and pulses which comes with an online calculator to allow you to calculate actual nutrient offtake from your results. We also offer bespoke package options for our customers’ specific needs.

Horticulture

The nutrient solutions in NFT provide plants with the necessary elements to maximise crop production. The solution concentration needs to remain below the level at which interference with water uptake occurs, whilst maintaining sufficient nutrient levels.

Our NFT/water analytical suites determine nutrient levels, allowing growers and their advisors to make informed management decisions. Services include our glasshouse soil suite, compost suite, standard water, standard NFT and dissolved silicon analysis. Standard analysis of growing media is carried out to the BS EN 13040 standard.

Environmental

Renewable energy generation and recyclable waste products contribute towards reducing the millions of tonnes of landfilled waste every year in the UK. NRM delivers environmental testing services to the renewables sector including waste to land, contaminated land, PAS109 (recycled gypsum from waste plasterboard), PAS100 (compost and horticulture), PAS111 (waste wood), and PAS110 analysis, which is concerned with anaerobic digestion (AD) plants.

These plants produce biogas, which can be converted into energy, presenting an opportunity for UK farmers under pressure to adopt and maintain sustainable farming practices.

Amenity

Sports turf, such as football pitches, golf courses and playgrounds, suffers from intense wear and tear. NRM works closely with groundsmen and greenkeepers to maintain turf quality through soil and turfgrass analysis, providing valuable information on nutrient status.

This insight helps achieve maximum efficiency from amenity fertilisers, which are high value, specialist products that require an integrated programme of soil and tissue testing. Services include standard soil, comprehensive trace element, plant foliar and five sands analysis.

Manure & slurry analysis

Manures and slurry supply nutrients, improving soil condition and influencing crop growth and performance, but nutrient levels of organic fertilisers can vary considerably. NRM’s manure and slurry analysis services give information on the fertiliser value of farm and waste products, assisting farmers to save on fertiliser management and to reduce nutrient leaching and environmental impact.

Services include standard manure and slurry analysis, potentially toxic elements, neutralising value, organic matter/ash content, and uric acid nitrogen analysis.