Healthy soil starts with insight
10 April 2026 - Arable farming
Two soil experts discuss soil, sampling and sustainability
Aveve is one of the 40 leading brands of Arvesta, Belgium’s largest full-service partner for farmers and gardeners. Through a network of more than 60 franchisees, professional farmers and horticulturalists can turn to Aveve for an extensive range of feeds, products and services for arable farming. Eurofins Agro Testing is Europe’s largest group of agricultural laboratories offering testing and advice for farming and growing. The two have come together to discuss the importance of soil health to demonstrate why and how farmers can benefit from new soil testing analysis.
Since spring 2025, Aveve in Belgium has been using the Soil Health Indicator from Eurofins Agro. This is an extensive soil analysis that helps farmers gain deeper insight into the condition of their soil – and, more importantly, what it needs to continue performing sustainably.
In a conversation between Sander Maes, Concept Manager at Aveve, and Arjan Reijneveld, soil expert at Eurofins Agro, it quickly becomes clear that their collaboration stems from a shared vision: making agricultural production future-proof begins with the soil.
A holistic approach
Sander begins: “What strikes me time and again is that many farmers here in Belgium still cling to the classic soil test. They regularly take a soil sample to comply with regulations.”
Nitrogen, phosphate, organic matter and pH are measured. But often nothing more is done with those figures afterwards. A shame, because you miss out on so much potential.”
Arjan nods in agreement. “The soil is far more complex than a few routinely measured parameters. With the Soil Health Indicator, we look at the complete picture. We see the soil as a puzzle: only when all the pieces fit together can we speak of a healthy soil. That’s why at Eurofins we analyse not only the chemical composition but also the physical and biological properties. We also examine the organic carbon balance and check for the possible presence of elements that may hamper growth. Everything in the soil is interconnected.”
This holistic approach is precisely what appeals to Aveve, Sander explains. “Using Soil Health Indicator farmers receive a complete overview: what can your soil cope with, and where does it fall short? That helps enormously when approaching fertilisation and management in a well‑considered way. The soil analysis report you receive is highly informative and enables you to draw up a well‑founded fertilisation plan.”
More parameters make sense
Three aspects of Soil Helath Indicator stand out for Sander: plant‑available nutrients, the cation exchange capacity (CEC), and trace elements. “In the past, we mainly looked at the total soil reserve, but that actually tells us too little about what a crop can truly absorb during the growing season.”
Arjan explains why the distinction between plant‑available nutrients and total reserves is crucial. “Take nitrogen, for example. In spring there may appear to be a shortage, while later in the season more nitrogen is released through mineralisation. If you apply too much fertiliser, for instance in potato cultivation, you’ll get excessive leaf growth at the expense of tuber development. And then you end up losing rather than gaining.”
Sulphur is another nutrient that deserves more attention today, Sander adds. “It is often overlooked, yet it is an essential element, especially for protein formation. More than half of Flemish soils contain too little sulphur. Due to reduced sulphur emissions since the 1980s, atmospheric deposition has decreased sharply. On lighter soils this often leads to deficiencies, and therefore to yield losses if you don’t compensate with additional sulphur.”
Manganese is another frequently forgotten element, Arjan adds. “It is an important trace element. Wheat, potatoes, sugar beet… these are all crops that are sensitive to manganese deficiency. You don’t always notice it immediately, but it restricts growth and thus reduces yields. With an extensive soil test, you can identify a potential manganese deficiency in time and adjust with foliar fertilisation during the season. That’s why accurate monitoring of trace elements is so important.”
Soil structure remains essential
Sander points to the importance of the CEC in the report. “That figure shows how many positively charged nutrients – the so‑called cations calcium, magnesium and potassium – are bound to the clay‑humus complex in the soil. The higher the CEC, the more nutrients the soil can retain, and therefore the more fertile it is. But even more interesting is the balance between those elements. If you have more calcium than magnesium on the CEC, you get a more aerated soil structure, which benefits root development.”
“Exactly,” says Arjan. “That’s why we need to look at soil management more broadly than just fertilisation. Soil health is the result of many factors combined. It takes time, understanding and an integrated approach to improve it. The advantage of this comprehensive analysis is that by monitoring soil health over the years, you gain a clear picture of the effects of the measures taken. The soil health score in the report helps with this.”
Information sessions on soil health
But, Sander acknowledges, all that information can also be overwhelming. “The soil analysis reports are very comprehensive, and farmers sometimes don’t know where to begin. That’s why we provide support at Aveve. We have created a fertilisation programme that generates fertilisation recommendations based on specific soil properties such as pH, soil texture and CEC. We don’t look at a single crop, but at the farmer’s entire crop rotation to enable the most considered fertilisation approach. It doesn’t only take nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium into account, but also other crucial elements such as magnesium, calcium, sulphate and trace elements. A high‑quality soil analysis is the basis of a good fertilisation recommendation. By measuring what is present in the soil, we can provide personalised advice. Together with Eurofins, we also organise information sessions so farmers can learn how to work with the figures from the analysis and improve soil health.”
Ultimately, it’s not just about higher yields, Arjan emphasises. “A healthy soil is resilient, retains nutrients better, leaches less and is more resistant to drought. In short, a healthy soil forms the foundation of sustainable agriculture.”
Sander nods: “We’re at a turning point. Regulations are getting stricter, margins are shrinking, and societal pressure on the sector is increasing. Efficiency is no longer a luxury; it’s a necessity. And everything begins with insight. You need to know what’s happening in your soil to make well‑informed decisions.”
Arjan concludes: “With the Soil Health Indicator, we provide farmers with that insight. No more standard analysis, but an in‑depth investigation. This allows them to invest purposefully in their soil – and therefore in the future of their farm.”
Monitor, improve and demonstrate soil health
Eurofins Agro’s extensive soil analysis provides a complete picture of soil health. The following parameters are measured:
- Soil physics: structure, pH, salinity, clay‑humus complex, slaking, wind erosion sensitivity and crumbliness
- Soil chemistry: major and trace elements, and several beneficial elements (such as S, Si or Mn)
- Soil biology: including presence and balance of fungi and bacteria
- Organic carbon balance
- Potentially harmful elements such as aluminium
The report provides an agronomic assessment per parameter, supported by crop‑specific recommendations and long‑term soil management advice. It also contains a soil health score that enables monitoring improvements in soil quality over time.
Soil sampling can be requested via Aveve or through one of the Aveve agricultural centers. Following sampling, a digital report is issued. The resulting soil analyses can then be used as the basis for a personalised fertilisation recommendation.
