25 Jul 5 reasons why healthy soil is fundamental to sustainable farming
Farmers know that healthy crops and pastures depend on nutrient-rich soil. Soil health is also fundamental to sustainable food production and long-term food security.
However, soils can lose nutrients over time and fail to sustain plant growth.
Here are five reasons why supporting good soil health will pay off in the short and long term.
1. Soil fertility equals better yield
At its core, soil quality directly impacts crop fertility, leading to a higher yield. Healthy soil provides the essential nutrients and minerals to grow strong and productive plants.
Farmers optimise their crop yields by nurturing soil health and providing animals with a nutrient-dense food source year after year.
2. Improves water retention and drainage
Soil quality influences its ability to retain water and regulate drainage. Well-structured soil can efficiently absorb and store water, reducing the risk of waterlogging during heavy rainfall and preventing drought stress during dry spells. Farmers can better manage water resources and safeguard their crops against extreme weather conditions by maintaining optimal soil structure.
3. Healthy soil helps build pest and disease resistance
Healthy soil harbours a diverse ecosystem of beneficial microorganisms. These microbial allies play a crucial role in suppressing pests and diseases naturally. They strengthen plant immunity, reducing the need for chemical pesticides and fungicides. Farmers can enhance crop resilience and minimise the risk of pest outbreaks by promoting soil biodiversity.
4. Supports nutrient cycling and soil health
Soil quality influences the cycling of nutrients within the ecosystem, ensuring that essential elements like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are readily available to plants.
Sustainable farming practices such as crop rotation, cover cropping, and adding organic matter promote nutrient cycling and improve soil health over time. By nurturing a balanced soil ecosystem, farmers can reduce reliance on synthetic fertilisers and foster long-term sustainability.
5. Tackles environmental stewardship
Healthy soil is beneficial for crop production and the environment at large. Well-managed soils act as carbon sinks, sequestering atmospheric carbon dioxide and mitigating climate change. Healthy soil promotes biodiversity and resilience, supporting a thriving ecosystem above and below ground. Farmers can contribute to environmental conservation by prioritising soil health and leaving a positive legacy for future generations.
Feeding the soil with biological fertilisers has long-term benefits
Australian farmers use Biolink’s microbial-based fertilisers, soil stimulants, and compost starters to feed the soil, boost the quality of the soil and lift yields beyond the next crop.
Used alongside conventional fertilisers, they ensure the time and money you’ve spent applying these nutrients isn’t wasted.
As custodians of the land, farmers hold the power to nurture and protect this invaluable resource for generations to come. By investing in soil health and adopting regenerative agricultural practices, farmers can unlock many benefits, from increased yields and pest resistance to environmental stewardship and resilience to climate change.