Fertility
 Having the right nutrients available in the right amounts at the right time is critical to plant productivity. Being able to provide plants with nutrients in a manner that does not deplete the soil but actually builds soil health is not only possible, but necessary in order to be sustainable.
Having the right nutrients available in the right amounts at the right time is critical to plant productivity. Being able to provide plants with nutrients in a manner that does not deplete the soil but actually builds soil health is not only possible, but necessary in order to be sustainable. 
Finding cost-effective ways to do this is important for farm profitability. Making sure producers do not cause downstream pollution in the form of nutrient runoff is also part of the balancing act. Composts, manures, cover cropping, biochar, and other nutrient inputs can all be a part of regenerative nutrient management. The practical ATTRA resources in this section can help crop and livestock farmers, whether organic or conventional, manage soil fertility sustainably.
Related Topics
Staff Experts
Nina Prater
ATTRA - Sustainable AgricultureLee Rinehart
ATTRA - Sustainable Agriculture https://attra.ncat.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/NATE-OLIVE.mp4.00_14_41_12.Still001.jpg
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				NCAT IT2024-03-26 14:12:442024-03-27 12:28:08Market-Diversification Strategies with Ridge to Reef Farm on St. Croix, US Virgin Islands
				
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				NCAT IT2024-03-26 14:12:442024-03-27 12:28:08Market-Diversification Strategies with Ridge to Reef Farm on St. Croix, US Virgin Islands https://attra.ncat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/source-Lincoln-Fishman_anonymous.jpg
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				NCAT IT2023-12-26 07:01:142024-03-27 11:48:27Living Mulch Cover Cropping for Gardens and Small Farms: Managing an “organic matter” system
				
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				NCAT IT2023-12-26 07:01:142024-03-27 11:48:27Living Mulch Cover Cropping for Gardens and Small Farms: Managing an “organic matter” system https://attra.ncat.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/48935484668_b4391f79b5_k.jpg
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				NCAT IT2023-09-27 15:07:352023-09-27 15:07:35Episode 323. Potassium from Past to Present
				
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				NCAT IT2023-09-27 15:07:352023-09-27 15:07:35Episode 323. Potassium from Past to Present https://attra.ncat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/mad-farm-sign.jpg
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				NCAT IT2023-08-15 07:29:212024-10-28 10:26:29Practicing Resurrection: Using Green Manures on a Small Semi-Urban Homestead
				
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				NCAT IT2023-08-15 07:29:212024-10-28 10:26:29Practicing Resurrection: Using Green Manures on a Small Semi-Urban Homestead https://attra.ncat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/creek.jpg
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				NCAT IT2023-06-20 16:52:022024-03-27 12:19:14Managing Phosphorus for Clean Water
				
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				NCAT IT2023-06-20 16:52:022024-03-27 12:19:14Managing Phosphorus for Clean Water https://attra.ncat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/woman-walking-field.jpg
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				NCAT IT2023-06-07 16:51:382023-11-08 16:26:42Climate Primer
				
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				NCAT IT2023-06-07 16:51:382023-11-08 16:26:42Climate Primer https://attra.ncat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/alley-cropping.jpg
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				NCAT IT2023-06-07 16:24:562023-09-07 07:40:48Climate Beneficial Practices
				
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				NCAT IT2023-06-07 16:24:562023-09-07 07:40:48Climate Beneficial Practices https://attra.ncat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/fence-in-pasture-scaled.jpg
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				NCAT IT2023-06-06 07:55:232024-03-27 12:23:00Weaning Pasture Soils Off Chemical Dependence
				
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				NCAT IT2023-05-17 12:58:522025-10-02 16:11:22Episode 304. Phosphorus and the Beauty of Biology
				
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				NCAT IT2023-05-17 12:58:522025-10-02 16:11:22Episode 304. Phosphorus and the Beauty of Biology  https://attra.ncat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/image002.png
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				NCAT IT2023-03-28 10:41:262024-03-27 13:54:00Reflections on Growing Hope: Practical Tools for Our Changing Climate
				
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				NCAT IT2023-03-03 09:47:042023-03-17 18:07:35WATCH Growing Hope: Climate and Soils
				
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				NCAT IT2023-03-03 09:47:042023-03-17 18:07:35WATCH Growing Hope: Climate and Soils https://attra.ncat.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Manure-1.jpg
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				NCAT IT2022-11-17 14:43:072022-11-17 16:23:23Tipsheet: Manure in Organic Production Systems
				
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				NCAT IT2022-11-17 14:43:072022-11-17 16:23:23Tipsheet: Manure in Organic Production Systems https://attra.ncat.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/squash-on-many-hands-organic-farm.jpeg
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				NCAT IT2022-11-15 08:15:052024-03-27 14:31:35Feeding the World Part 2: A Tale of Two Worlds
				
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				Amy Smith2022-11-04 12:23:392022-11-04 12:23:39Manures for Organic Crop Production
				
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				Amy Smith2022-11-04 12:23:392022-11-04 12:23:39Manures for Organic Crop Production NCAT
				
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				NCAT IT2022-11-03 11:48:262023-06-20 15:34:49Alternative Soil Amendments
NCAT
				
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				NCAT IT2022-11-03 11:48:262023-06-20 15:34:49Alternative Soil Amendments https://attra.ncat.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/cow-and-calf-on-millet.jpg
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				NCAT IT2022-09-28 10:23:002022-10-03 09:44:04Nutrient Management Plan (590) for Organic Systems
				
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				NCAT IT2022-09-28 10:23:002022-10-03 09:44:04Nutrient Management Plan (590) for Organic Systems




