Soil Chemistry

Let's take a peek into the chemistry component of our soil. Stick with us for some takeaways at the end of the quick read below!

For many, understanding soil chemistry seems pretty complex! We’ve all heard of NPK though, and that seems pretty simple. But have you ever considered that your crops need much more than just NPK? While certainly important, focusing on these 3 nutrients alone can actually limit your crop potential.

There many elements that play a critical role in the growth and reproduction of our plants. At least 21 elements have been identified as essential to grow a healthy, viable plant. When these elements are balanced and available for plants, there is significant impact on crop yield and quality.

How do you know what nutrients are in your soil, and if they are available to your crop? Soil testing is a good tool for getting a general picture of nutrient levels and balances in your soil. Testing provides a window into the factors that affect the availability of those nutrients to the crop. A soil test is like a barometer: it gives an overview of nutrient levels, excesses, and other factors such as pH and ORP. Testing the plant sap during the growing season enables you to determine what nutrients the growing crop is able to access.

Many commercial nutrient inputs have a long-term negative effect on soil health. Most conventional fertilizers are forms of salts, which causes cellular stress, negatively affecting both plants and microorganisms. There are many options available for nutrients that are soil-health friendly. Complexing liquid inputs with a carbon molecule or a carbohydrate is one example of a simple step you can take that pays dividends in soil health and nutrient uptake. 

Ultimately, biology is the key to unlocking unavailable nutrients in our soil. Healthy, diverse populations of bacteria and fungi create enzymes that release those nutrients from the soil. These microbes, if they are present and healthy, will result in impressive nutrient availability in the long run. Stay tuned for more on biology next month!

Takeaways:

· Focusing on NPK alone will limit a crop’s full potential.

· Balancing the 21 nutritional elements will impact crop yield and quality.

· Testing and measuring is essential and allows us to compensate for excesses and deficiencies.

· Biology is the key to unlocking unavailable nutrients in our soils.