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Soil Management

Importance of Nutrients in Soil Health

An agronomist's hands holding a pile of healthy dark soil.

Alan Blaylock, Ph.D.

Soil health is certainly a hot topic in many circles these days, and it seems everyone has their own definition of what that means. Healthy soils are key to sustaining global food production while protecting the environment. While fertilizers are often criticized in some circles as being detrimental to soil health, they are a critical component of soil health management.

Certainly, there can be some negative effects if nutrients are not properly managed. For example, some nitrogen fertilizers can acidify soil over time if soils are not properly limed, leading to diminished biological activity and productivity. Proper fertilization promotes greater biomass production, the food supply for microorganisms, and stimulates greater biological activity. Proper fertilization coupled with sound agronomic management of crops and soils enhances soil chemical, physical, and biological properties leading to greater and more sustainable productivity.

To learn more about the intersection of soil health and fertilizers, check out this link.