Synthetic Fertilizers' Disruption of Soil Biology

The Misunderstanding About Focusing on End Products

There's a misunderstanding that a healthy-looking crop means the soil is on a good path. We all have a tendency to focus on the end product in the work we do. With greater automation and more demands on our time, along with becoming more of an instant gratification culture, we have a tendency to neglect the process.

Years ago much of the work people did was a reward in and of itself. There was joy in the crafting of a thing. The artist may have the final work in mind, but must immerse himself in every step along the way in order to perfect it. Where have the marble sculptors gone?

It would benefit us all if we would step back a little and focus more on our processes. And by “all”, the farmer is included.

How Common Practices Eliminate Soil Life

Ultimately, in order to set the land on a regenerative path, the soil needs to be improved. In situations where the farmer tills and sprays with insecticides and herbicides regularly, this becomes impossible. There are three main reasons why.

Bare ground is always degenerative. When there’s no cover on the ground, the soil will blow away with the wind, wash away with the rain, get baked by the sun and freezes easier and more deeply.

Insecticides aren’t very discriminative. The spray that kills the pests also kills the beneficials, both above the soil and below it. And, of course, the same can be said of herbicides, especially as they related to some of the beneficial ecology of healthy soil.

When these are taking place extensively, there’s simply little-to-no life in the soil.

Turning to Synthetic Fertilizers as a Quick Fix

This lack of life in the soil is often overcome with spraying or spreading synthetic fertilizers, resulting in a healthier looking crop. But this is part of that process we mentioned earlier.

Every situation is different. Before relying on this approach it pays to ask whether the benefit of using synthetic fertilizers outweighs the cost. Are there downsides to the health of the crop when synthetic fertilizers are used? How does it affect the nutrients?

The Impact on Soil Biology and Regeneration

Consider also the cost and the wear and tear on equipment. Is there equipment that isn’t needed if there’s no synthetic fertilizer used? How about fuel costs? How is time management affected?

How does the fertilizer affect the soil? How does it affect the soil biology? When synthetic fertilizers are used in place of living soil processes, the beneficial microorganisms that drive natural nutrient cycling and water-holding capacity stay suppressed. This prevents the long-term regeneration that comes from building soil life instead of bypassing it.

Practical Steps Toward Restoring Soil Life

On our operation, we've found it pays to examine the whole process rather than reaching for the quick green-up. Reducing practices that leave ground bare and that kill beneficials above and below the soil gives the microorganisms a chance to return. Your context may differ, but stepping back to focus on the steps that rebuild soil biology leads to more resilient land over time.