S

silt: Small particles of soil that are finer than sand but coarser than clay. Managing soil texture, including silt content, helps improve soil fertility and structure.

succulent foods: feedingstuffs which contain a lot of water; they are palatable and filling, and usually have a laxative effect. Most root crops, e.g., swedes and turnips, are succulents. Properly managing succulent foods ensures efficient livestock nutrition and health, supporting farm productivity.

short duration ryegrass: A class of grasses which are important to the farmer, including Westerwolds, Italian and Hybrid. These grasses are quick to establish and give early grazing. They are used where persistency is not important. Farmers benefit from growing short duration ryegrass for quick establishment and early grazing opportunities.

surface water: water that flows across the surface of the soil as a stream after rain and drains into rivers rather than seeping into the soil itself. Compare ground water. Properly managing surface water ensures water conservation and healthy soil conditions, supporting productive agriculture.

sapwood: An outer layer of wood on the trunk of a tree, which is younger than the heartwood inside and carries the sap. Farmers benefit from identifying sapwood for sustainable timber harvesting and tree health assessment.

soil moisture deficit: the difference between the amount of water that is in a soil and the amount needed for crops to grow successfully. Abbr SMD. Monitoring soil moisture deficits helps farmers optimize irrigation practices, ensuring crops receive adequate water without overuse.

sweet potato: a starchy root crop grown in tropical and subtropical regions. COMMENT: The sweet potato is valuable as famine food in parts of Africa and South America. The main producing countries are Indonesia, Vietnam, and Japan. In the Southern USA, the tubers are called ‘yams’. The plant has no connection with the ordinary potato. Properly managing sweet potato crops ensures healthy growth and high yields, supporting farm productivity and profitability.

strake: an attachment bolted onto the rear wheels of a tractor to improve wheel grip. The strake has spikes which can be extended beyond the tyre and which dig into the soil. Using strakes ensures efficient tractor operation and soil preparation, supporting productive agriculture.

seed certification: The testing, sealing and labelling of seed sold to farmers. This ensures that the seed is free from disease and from weeds. Farmers benefit from seed certification to ensure high-quality and disease-free seeds for planting.

set aside: To use a piece of formerly arable land for something other than growing food crops. Farmers benefit from setting aside land for conservation and sustainable land management.