Less fertilisers and crop protection products needed when grower collaborates with soil life

Quite a lot is already known about soil life. Microorganisms in the soil are, e.g., decomposing plant material into minerals such as nitrate, and CO2. They are digging burrows or are cementing small soil particles together. This enables the soil to absorb water and results in a good structure on which crops show optimum growth.

Unknown soil life

But a lot is also not known about soil life. Which species must at least be present in the soil to achieve a good yield? And how much of each species is then required? And are species interacting, how much organic matter do they need, and what is the effect of soil life on the water-holding capacity of the soil? And what is the effect on crop yield?

Starting with a lot of measurements

These are the questions the scientists of Applied Plant Research are - together with scientists from other research organisations and growers – trying to answer. Because so much is still unknown, they must start with a lot of measurements. They are not only determining which species are present in different soils. They are also quantifying other soil properties such as the water-holding capacity and the concentration of minerals.

This research should lead to recommendations to the grower: which measures help soil life to start working for him. If this really takes off, growers need to use less fertilisers and pesticides. And this is at the same time resulting in a healthy soil, also in the longer term.