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Are we starving our soil? And, as consequence are we starving our stock of vital nutrients when they appear well fed?
In the ‘60’s I was fortunate to study Soil Science under Professor Walker (as now seen on TV). He talked of balance and the provision of vital micro nutrients in trace elements. I’ve talked previously of common threads amongst struggling farmers and find another one is very low Ph and poor balance in their soil as well as a lack of trace elements.
I’ve also experienced an imbalance in the soil myself when dairying with 180 cows. I watched cows die in front of me because I lacked the basic understanding of trace element requirements.
It happened again in my avocado orchard. Following high NPK fertiliser recommendations has caused huge imbalances resulting in fruit drop and poor fruit settings. My previous experience., however, has caused me to move very quickly to remedy the situation with amazing results to date.
For those of you who have read “Dead Doctors don’t Lie” will know how important trace elements are in humans. I’m talking of selenium and zinc. If low selenium in pregnant mares causes 10 day old foals to die of white muscle disease, could it be that cot deaths are caused by low selenium in the mother? New Zealand has the lowest level of available selenium in the western world and one of the highest cot deaths rates. Could it be low selenium also causes infertility in humans as it does in all livestock? Could it also be that low zinc exacerbates skin cancer as it does in sheep? i.e., eczema.
Could it be that continual infections, such as colds, influenza etc., are the result of low zinc? Animals and humans can only be as healthy as the lowest available element. This is demonstrated by the Albrecht Barrel below.
This is known as the’ law of the minimum’; something can only be as good as the lowest factor.
Now, going back to our soils, there are a lot more micro nutrients and trace elements to look carefully art than just Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Potash, Sodium, Ph levels and so on. The soil is a complex, living matter. There are more micro organisms in a teaspoon of soil than beings in the world. Some micro nutrients and their qualities are:
Cobalt. Cobalt is essential in ruminants for the formation of vitamin B12. It is still marginal in parts of New Zealand including the Waikato with the obvious signs such as “bush sickness” particularly affecting younger stock.
Boron. Boron is essential for photosynthesis and energy production in plants. It is important in legumes and a lot of other crops. It helps balance the nitrate nitrogen excesses common in high N pastures Spring and Autumn Boron may also reduce bloat in cattle.
Iron. Iron has many important functions in both plants and animals. It is included in the presence of haemoglobin and synthesis of chlorophyll. Excesses in stock feeds will suppress copper and zinc.
Manganese. Manganese is essential in many plant functions. I believe it is the forgotten micronutrient. It is essential for calcium uptake in plants. Manganese is not commonly recommended as part of fertiliser requirements but is, however, essential.
Copper. Copper is an essential element for livestock. Signs of low copper include a dull coat and colour, dull, weeping eyes, lethargy and so on. Results of low copper include low weight gains and reduced fertility. High molybdenum can cause low copper uptake so watch out. In plants copper is essential for photosynthesis protein and carbohydrate metabolism. It is also essential for the rhizobia bacteria in nitrogen fixation
Molybdenum It is essential for nitrogen fixation in legumes i.e., clover and Lucerne. It is essential for vegetable production. Deficiency increases as the Ph falls; i.e., below 5. Overstocking can reduce copper absorption. Too much molybdenum may also cause induced copper deficiency
Zinc. Zinc is essential in animals and plants. I have already covered some of the deficiencies.
So, there are a number of issues covered here. As custodians of our farms and orchards we often only think about what is above ground and what they need. We need to think more like a worm or a soil micro-organism. What do we need to apply or avoid to get the best balance in the soil to support the life above, which includes us humans. You see, if we keep getting it wrong, stock, crops and orchards do not prosper and then we or the farmer have our pockets effected.
Then have we passed the land, or the soil and subsoil on to the next generation in the best possible condition? In many cases I think not. Ensure you test for all the micronutrients and endeavour to get the right balance. It will pay big dividends.
These are the opinions of Don Fraser of Fraser Farm Finance. Any decisions made should not be based on this article alone and appropriate professional assistance should be sought.
Don Fraser is the Principal of Fraser Farm Finance and a consultant to the Farming Industry. Contact him on 0800 777 675 or 021 777 675.
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