Pressures on coastal grazing marsh

This nature conservation interest of coastal grazing marsh has developed alongside the traditional pastoral use of the land. This typically involved low stock levels and limited use of artificial fertilizers. From the 1930s onwards increasing stock levels and drainage began the processes associated with more intensive agricultural use. The conversion to arable, of these and other traditionally managed areas, also took place and with it the destruction of most of the nature conservation interest in many areas.

Caveat: High sodium levels associated with these 'reclaimed lands' have caused problems in recent years. In the permanent pastures of the undrained coastal grazing marsh a greater proportion of sodium is present in the soil water. Drainage and cultivation of these soils has led to a transfer of sodium from the soil water to the soil particles. This has led in some areas of North Kent to deflocculation of the soil which has in turn caused failure of the drainage system. A study of this situation by the Soil Survey resulted in the conclusion that "this land cannot be regarded as particularly suitable for arable cultivation" (Hazelden et al. 1986).

References

Hazelden, J., Loveland, P.J. & Sturdy, R.J. 1986. Saline Soils in North Kent. Soil Survey Special Reports, 14 Soil Survey, Harpenden.