Understand the full biological, chemical and physical picture of your soil, and get clear, practical guidance on where to act first.
Most farms test for pH, nitrogen, phosphate and potassium. That’s a start, but it’s only part of the picture. The biological activity in your soil, its physical structure and its ability to hold water and nutrients are the factors that separate a good harvest from a great one, year after year.
Healthy soils give crops the physical structure, biological activity and nutrient availability they need to get off to a strong start and keep performing through the season.
Soil structure determines how well your land handles extremes. Good aggregate stability and water-holding capacity can make the difference when the weather turns against you.
When soil biology and chemistry are working together, nutrients go further. Understanding your soil’s cation exchange capacity and organic matter levels helps you apply inputs where they’ll actually make a difference.
Soil organic matter is one of the most powerful tools for carbon storage. Understanding and improving your soil’s carbon status supports sustainability commitments and positions your farm for future schemes.
If your soil health isn’t where it should be, the good news is that meaningful improvements often start with straightforward actions. You just need to know where to look, and that’s exactly what Soils IQ is designed to tell you.
You can’t manage what you can’t measure. Soils IQ gives you a clear, independently verified picture of where your soil stands today across physical, biological and chemical indicators, not just the basics.
With a whole-picture analysis, you stop guessing and start knowing. Whether it’s adjusting lime applications, evaluating cover crops, improving structure or fine-tuning fertiliser strategy, our reports show where effort will make the greatest difference.
Farms that understand their soils today are building a competitive advantage for tomorrow. Benchmarking your soil health now puts you ahead of the curve as sustainability expectations grow, rather than scrambling to catch up.
Soil health is increasingly part of the sustainability conversation for UK supply chains. Farms that act early, benchmarking and demonstrating improvement, will be in a far stronger position when reporting requirements arrive. Soils IQ gives you the independent, credible data to support those conversations.
Talk to our soil health team about the right starting point for your farm.
We guide you through the whole process, from choosing the right service level to understanding your results and knowing what to do next.
Select the Bronze, Silver or Gold service level that matches your goals, your land and your budget. Not sure? Speak to one of our experts and we’ll help you decide.
We guide you on exactly how and where to take composite samples across each field, with a minimum of five samples per field. We recommend sampling every three to five years.
Your samples are analysed by our accredited laboratory team using world-class instrumentation, with rigorous quality assurance at every stage.
You receive a plain-English report with practical recommendations, not just numbers. Understand what your results mean, and exactly where to focus your efforts first.
Whether you’re just starting your soil health journey or looking for a comprehensive analysis programme, there’s a level that fits your needs and ambitions. Start where you are, and build as your understanding grows.
A reliable starting point for informed soil management
Ideal for
Routine monitoring, compliance testing and entry-level soil health assessments
What you’ll learn
Everything in Bronze, plus deeper biological and structural insight
Ideal for
Progressive farms and those engaged in stewardship schemes
What you’ll learn
The complete soil health and functionality picture
Ideal for
Regenerative systems, farms reducing synthetic inputs, and those needing to demonstrate improvement to auditors
What you’ll learn
| Analysis included | BronzeEssential | SilverIntegrated | GoldAdvanced |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical | |||
| Water stable aggregate assessment (large fraction), the percentage of aggregates stable after wet sieving | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Water stable aggregates, small fraction (associated with carbon storage) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Mean weight diameter of aggregates | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Soil bulk density | ✓ | ||
| Water holding capacity | ✓ | ||
| Soil porosity (derived from specific gravity) | ✓ | ||
| Biological | |||
| Enzyme activity measure | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Chemistry | |||
| Soil pH | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Soil mineral nitrogen | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Phosphate, potassium and magnesium | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Soil organic matter | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| C:N ratio (based on conversion of organic matter to carbon) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Soil texture (particle size distribution) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electrical conductivity (salinity) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Soil organic carbon | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Cation exchange capacity (CEC) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Micronutrient profile | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Reporting and extras | |||
| Plain-English results report with practical recommendations | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Benchmarking capability | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Guidance on composite sampling technique | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Integrated soil health score | ✓ | ||
| Soil archive stored at −80°C for future analysis as new technologies emerge | ✓ | ||
| Bespoke packages available on request | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Analysis is carried out on composite samples from each field, with a minimum of five samples per field. We recommend sampling every three to five years. Bespoke packages are also available, so get in touch to discuss your requirements.
“Soil health is about so much more than NPK. Understanding that means even small changes can deliver big results. Soils IQ gives you the independent, whole-picture analysis to make those changes with confidence.”
Gareth Newman, Business Development Manager, Hutton Scientific Services
Soils IQ is delivered by Hutton Scientific Services, the commercial arm of the James Hutton Institute, one of the UK’s leading centres for soil and agricultural research.
We don’t sell fertiliser, agronomy services or inputs. Our only interest is giving you accurate, unbiased analysis you can act on with confidence.
Backed by decades of soil and agronomy research from the Hutton, with laboratory services delivered to the highest standards, including ISO17025 accreditation where required. Results you can defend, for internal decisions or external reporting.
Every report comes in plain English with practical recommendations, not just numbers. You’ll know what your results mean and exactly where to focus first.
Get in touch
Speak to one of our experts to find the right service level for your farm. No obligation, just honest advice.