Fertility

Steaming manureHaving 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

Nina Prater

Lee Rinehart

Lee Rinehart

Healthy soil and hands, USDA Flickr
Nina Prater's creek with a dog standing on the shore
Woman walking small acreage field
Fence in green pasture
Cereal rye cover crop
Sheep manure in a cover cropped walnut alley. This farmer stopped grazing sheep in their walnut orchard due to the potential risk (and liability) of contamination by pathogens from undecomposed manure contacting walnuts during harvest.
Squash in the field many hands farm
a wheel barrel full of horse manure
NCAT
A cow and calf grazing on a summer cover crop of pearl millet.
closeup of hand holding rich soil with earthworms