MicroTech© Education Page 2

At present, only a few of these minerals are routinely replaced by modern fertilization practices.  This
constant mining of the soil is the major cause for marginal and declining nutrient levels of fruits and
vegetables and for greater insect and disease problems in ornamental landscapes and lawns.

In ranching it is the same issue, only the package is a cow instead of a radish.  Nevertheless, the effect
is the same, depleted soil.  Unless minerals can get to the animal through pasture or feed supplements,
a rancher's livestock will be less healthy, requiring more veterinary services, and the finished product
will have a poor nutritional value to the consumer.

The process of mineral balance and microbial bacteria activity in the soil revolves around a concept
called the "Law of the Minimum" which states:  "All of the nutrients needed for healthy plant and
animal growth must be present in balance to allow the plant or animal to reach its maximum potential.  Growth and nutrition limitations are encountered when a deficiency occurs in any one of the essential
elements.  The plant or animal nutritive potential will develop only to the extent that the limiting
nutrient concentration will allow."

The wealth of any nation is ultimately tied to the land.  If that land is drained of its mineral value,
then the plants, livestock and people will all suffer from various degrees of malnutrition.

As chemicals and toxins increase, soil microbial action and nutrient availability generally decrease,
resulting in less self-regenerative capabilities of the soil. As time passes, farmers, ranchers, urban
landscape maintenance operators and homeowners will continue to aggravate the problem by putting more and more pesticides and synthetic fertilizers into the soil.  Research from many sources has
established a direct link between soil quality and  nutrition levels in foods, and levels of disease
resistance in plants and animals.  This relationship is very simple.  As nutritional levels decrease
anywhere in the food chain, there is a corresponding increase of disease throughout the rest of the chain.  So, since there is this direct relationship, it is (or should be) everyone's interest that mining of the soil without replenishment, be addressed.

There is hope in this situation.  The positive actions of the agricultural community to make changes in typical fertilization is often in defiance of the recommendations of college research and extension offices, which persist in prescribing either no micronutrients or at best only 3 to 5 out of all 16
elements.  Nevertheless,  many farms are demanding that many or all of these "secondary" and trace elements be included in fertilization programs to avoid "hidden hunger" and poor nutritional results.

                            E-mail address:    todd@microfeed.com