Why Your Fertilizer Isn't Working (And What to Do Instead)
You're spending money on fertilizer, but your results aren't improving. Mike Usry explains the soil biology reasons your inputs fail and what to fix first.
Episode 3
Why Your Fertilizer Isn't Working (And What to Do Instead)
Chapters
Show Notes
What You’ll Learn
Throwing more fertilizer at the problem won’t fix it. In this episode, Mike explains:
- Why fertilizer fails even when you follow the label
- Nutrient lockup — what it is and why it happens
- The microbial connection between soil biology and nutrient availability
- Common mistakes that make the problem worse
- A better approach that works with soil biology, not against it
Key Takeaways
More Fertilizer ≠ Better Results
After a certain point, adding more synthetic fertilizer actually harms the soil biology you need for nutrient cycling. It’s a vicious cycle: depleted biology means locked-up nutrients, which tempts you to add more fertilizer.
Biology First, Inputs Second
The most cost-effective thing you can do is invest in soil biology before spending on fertilizer. Healthy microbial populations make every dollar of fertilizer work harder.
The Soil Test Trap
Soil tests might show plenty of nutrients present, but if they’re in unavailable forms, your plants can’t use them. Understanding the difference between total nutrients and plant-available nutrients is key.
Who This Episode Is For
- Farmers seeing diminishing returns from their fertilizer program
- Lawn care professionals whose clients aren’t getting the results they expect
- Homeowners frustrated with expensive fertilizer that doesn’t deliver
- Anyone looking to reduce input costs while improving results
This is Episode 3 of the Ag & Culture Podcast. Subscribe to follow along as we explore the intersection of agriculture and the communities it builds.