What do we see?
The table below shows the evolution of pH, organic carbon content, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium. The high proportion of soils with low pH and low organic carbon content stands out, as does the high proportion with a high value for potassium and magnesium; about 80 per cent of soils have a high value for phosphorus.
What’s the aim?
Soil is the basic material on which food is produced. Its quality, formed by elements such as physical structure, chemical balance and biological composition, determines whether the soil is suitable for production and what the yield will be. Good quality is therefore essential and is monitored through a series of soil parameters. Where the scores deviate, appropriate management is needed.
What does this indicator measure?
The data shown refer to Belgium as no separate data are available for Flanders. The Soil Department of Belgium (Bodemkundige Dienst van België, BDB) reports on the percentage of measured soils that are below, above or within the target range for each parameter. The target range is the optimal condition for a given parameter for most crops to grow. The target zones are determined individually for each sample, depending on the texture and organic composition of the soil. As the values can vary greatly year on year, they are reported per 3 to 4-year period.
However, soil health goes beyond available nutrients, so there is a need for additional data such as soil structure and soil biodiversity. The government is currently building a monitoring network in cooperation with ILVO (Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Research) to structurally track the quality of Flemish agricultural soils.
