People, soil…strong similarities
When it comes to health, soil scientist Ted Mikhail sees strong similarities between soil and people.
“The health of this living soil system has similar requirements to those of healthy people,” he wrote of his Mikhail System – a vision of soil management as a living system of cations (positively charged ions), nutrients and biology, all in the correct balance together and individually.
“For example, it is important to have good strong bones, and, for this, you need calcium, magnesium, sodium and phosphorus – in the right proportions. In a similar way, strong, healthy soil needs calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium and hydrogen – in the right proportions.
“Without a good skeleton, people cannot grow strong muscles. To develop muscles, they need more than just strong bones; they also require carbohydrates, protein and fat - in the right proportions. So, too, with plants. The main nutrients are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium - in the right proportions.
"But healthy people need more than just carbs, protein and fat - they also require certain amounts of minerals and vitamins. Plants are no different – for good productivity, they need the right balance of trace elements."
John Barnes from Fertilizer New Zealand discusses the soil
Microbes - Rizobia - White clover - Balance of minerals and elements in the ground and ph levels
