Spring soil health - Your underground workforce at work

John Barnes - Fertilizer NZ

Spring’s here, the grass is growing, and stock are glad to be back on fresh feed. But while we’re keeping an eye on what’s happening above ground, the real workhorses are below our feet. Down in the soil lives a whole workforce of microbes - beneficial bacteria and fungi that quietly keep the farm ticking over.

Healthy Soil is More Than Just Dirt: Healthy soil isn’t just dirt, it’s full of organic matter. Plants pull in energy from sunlight, turn it into sugars, and send some of that food down through their roots. That’s dinner for the microbes in the soil.

Fungi play a big role here. Their fine threads spread out like an extra root system, collecting water and nutrients for the plant. They also produce a glue-like substance that binds soil particles together. That’s what gives you those nice crumbly soils that hold water better, resist pugging, and don’t blow away in the wind. The more organic matter you’ve got stored in the soil, the better your pastures and crops will grow, the more feed you’ll have in a dry spell, and the stronger your pastures and crops will grow.

Keeping Grass Grub in Check: Grass grub damage causes pastures to thin out, opening the door to weeds. But when soil is alive with beneficial bacteria and fungi, grass grub comes under pressure. These natural allies attack and suppress pests, helping to keep populations in check. That means fewer bare patches and stronger pastures without always reaching for the chemical drum.

Stronger, Healthier Plants: Microbes don’t just protect they feed your plants too. Some bacteria unlock nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen that are otherwise tied up in the soil. Others can even capture nitrogen from the air. Fungi act like an extra set of roots, pulling in water and minerals the plant couldn’t reach on its own. The result is healthier, stronger plants that bounce back faster from dry spells or stock pressure and keep pumping out quality feed.  Stronger plants put more roots down, which keeps the whole soil system humming.

A Practical Boost for Soil Life: You don’t have to change everything you do to look after your underground workforce. Simple steps like reducing unnecessary chemical hits, keeping living roots in the ground for longer, and topping up with biology-friendly products all make a difference. That’s where Vitalife fits in. It’s a blend designed to feed and support the beneficial bacteria and fungi already in your soil, giving them the best chance to do their job. The payoff is paddocks that stay greener for longer, stock with more feed under them, and a farm system that’s more resilient year after year.

Talk to our team to add Vitalife into your next fertiliser blend.  Call us on 0800337869 or visit www.fertnz.co.nz