• What is organic matter?

Organic matter is any living or dead animal and plant material. It includes living plant roots and animals, plant and animal remains at various stages of decomposition, and microorganisms and their excretions.  When we refer to organic matter in reference to making growing improvements we mostly refer to plant matter as this is the most easy to source and manage on a beneficial scale to have significant influence on your farm.

• Why is organic matter so important?

Organic matter is the lifeblood of fertile, productive soil. Without it, agricultural production is not sustainable. Many soils today are in extreme need of increasing their organic matter content. The benefits should be a high priority and this leads to a proper solution to many growing issues experienced by growers today. It is one of the four corner-stones of soil recovery, the others being returning important high performing soil life with GROWERS GOLD, reducing digging and reduced chemical use.

• What will organic matter do in the long-term?

Organic matter starts to help your growing operation immediately and certainly even more so as time goes on. Organic matter is taken from your soil surface down into your soil by soil life. Whether your soil is too sandy or has heavy with clay, increasing organic matter helps the soil structure to open. An open soil structure is really important for healthy root distribution, good water and nutrient movement. It is one of the keys to growing success. 

Organic matter within the soil, (which is referred to as Soil Organic Matter, (S.O.M.)), also helps to hold water within the soil, in effect, to store water for when it is needed, during dry times. Organic matter on your soil surface protects your soil, soil life and your plant roots from the weather extremes of heavy rain, strong winds, heat and cool conditions.  It is a valuable source of nutrients which are taken into your soil and utilised by your plants.

Building S.O.M. is vital for soil regeneration and a prosperous growing future.

• Where do I get organic matter from?

The most efficient way to get organic matter is by growing it onsite or as near as possible. You can grow it as a cover crop in between main crops or during off seasons of your main crops. Otherwise organic matter such as cut grass, straws, crop residues, bark chips and similar materials or inorganic such as bark chips can be collected.

• What can't I use for organic matter?

Some plant matter produce materials that are harmful to other plants, this effect is called allelopathy. Some examples include: materials leached from the bark of black walnut trees suppressing growth of other plants around the base of the tree; Johnsongrass reducing yields in an infested field because of materials released from the roots; eucalyptus; and wheat residue reducing yields of a following sorghum crop.

In some cases the nitrogen-carbon ratio in organic matter may affect plant available nutrition. We encourage a balance of carbon material, generally dry in appearance and brown and the green wetter type material which is high in nitrogen. When planting cover crops a mix of nitrogen gathering and carbon gathering  plants generally creates the more balanced performance in improving soils with organic matter. 

• What if I never apply organic matter?

Many of the benefits of organic matter will be lost if its use is neglected, leading to poorer growing results short and long term.

Organic matter is a major keys to good growing. Benefits include; erosion protection, reduces compaction, helps retain soil moisture, maintains a more even soil temperature, prevents weeds, provides for organic matter to be taken into soil as important soil organic matter which helps significantly with soil life, soil nutrition, soil structure and soil moisture storage.