New Zealand Fertiliser Blog

Soil is very much a living substance –it’s either breaking up or building up. Millions of micro-organisms and other life-forms that live in or on the soil are the main agents of this continuous change. Without these micro-organisms – many of which are microscopic and beyond the vision of the naked eye – dead organic matter would pile high on Earth’s surface, and the soil would suffocate. Continue Reading »

Think of the soil in commercial terms for a minute. It’s not as out there as you might think. Cation nutrients are the currency in which soil deals, and soil colloids are the traders. As a couple of American researchers put it, "the first order of business for soil colloid is to hold nutrients – nutrients that can be traded off as the roots of a plant demand them". Continue Reading »