It’s All About the SOIL!

In the world of agriculture, everything we do has one goal: Feeding Life. But lofty as this goal is, our ability to accomplish it depends on one lowly element: The Soil. Because, whether we realize it or not, the soil we tread on everyday feeds all life on earth.

So how do we best feed the soil?

This is the quest of Agri-C Enrg, a family-owned company from Eureka, NV, with a long history of innovation. One of their biggest successes has been the development of Nutrient Plus, a revolutionary bio-catalyst designed to re-activate the biological processes of depleted soil, increase yields, and change the game for farmers tired of the status quo.

In this blog we are going to give an all-encompassing rundown of Nutrient Plus, what sets it apart from other bio-catalysts (or bios), and how it operates to put more LIFE back into the soil.

We’ll also talk about what soil actually is and why farmers are facing these problems in the first place. Finally, we’ll wrap it up by talking about the global impact of bio-catalysts such as Nutrient Plus and their potential for the future.

But first, let’s introduce you to Agri-C Enrg and the people behind this revolutionary product.

 

Who Is Agri-C Enrg?

The owners of Agri-C Enrg, Lynford and Lavon Miller, have been involved in agriculture all of their lives. They have spent the past twenty years growing alfalfa in Nevada.  Through much trial and error, as well as considerable investment in lab research, they developed a product they call Nutrient Plus. With help from a renowned biochemist, they have also been able to successfully create something they call Beyond Bios. (This is the foundation of the Nutrient Plus technology.)

They chose this name because they believe that Nutrient Plus is beyond bios due to the rich carbons and the complex technology of micelle used in its formulation.

Their goal of helping growers to achieve profitability through sustainable agriculture is summed up in their motto “We Feed Life.”

Agri C Enrg has been a trusted solution since 2010 for farmers around the globe. We are thrilled to continue that journey and together, feed LIFE throughout the world!

Nutrient Plus and the Wheel of Life in the Soil

So, what is Nutrient Plus?

Nutrient Plus stands out as a biocatalyst that significantly amplifies indigenous microbial activity in the soil. Nutrient Plus is enriched with carbon-infused nutrients and utilizes advanced micelle technology in its formulation. This unique composition not only stimulates microbial proliferation but also ensures that these beneficial organisms operate at their peak efficiency. ​

Another way to say it is that Nutrient Plus supplies the important spoke of biology in the wheel of soil health.

In the past decades, many confusing terms have been introduced into the world of agriculture. These include biologicals, probiotics, and prebiotics, which are now included in the more recent terminology of regenerative agriculture.  However, every crop farmer understands that many factors affect the desired outcome, and not all these factors are within your control.

But if we are to Feed Life, soil health must be our focus.

When viewed under a microscope, healthy soil is teeming with activity—that is, soil with real biology and plenty of bacteria. In fact, increasing and promoting biological activity is key to improving our soil health.

As farmers, the point of all our activities is to get this biology back into the soil. Planting cover crops, applying manure, and improving plant photosynthesis are some ways this can be done.

So How Does Nutrient Plus Fit In?

Nutrient Plus supplies a giant shot of this biology (or bacteria) to the soil. But wait a minute. Isn’t that what every other bios product on the market claims to do?

Here’s the truth: Many biological products lose their effectiveness due to fact that the bacteria may have already died before they reach the field. That’s right. Due to their short shelf life, delays in shipping or application can often lead to a complete breakdown of efficacy.

At Agri-C Enrg, we do something different with Nutrient Plus. We put the bacteria to sleep or into dormancy before we bottle them.

Even if shipping and storage exceed 2-3 years, the bacteria aren’t affected. They are ready to wake up and do their job whenever they arrive at the field and mixed for application.

If you are a farmer who has been frustrated by regenerative farming products, you may recognize this as a big deal. In fact, this extended shelf life is one of the biggest secrets to the effectiveness of Nutrient Plus.

Benefits of Nutrient Plus

The benefits of restarting the biological processes of the soil are many:

• Healthier Plant Life: By fostering a robust microbial community, plants receive a continuous supply of essential nutrients, leading to vigorous growth and higher yields.​
• Physically Sturdier Plants: Plants treated with Nutrient Plus are far stronger and sturdier than control plants.
• Enhanced Earthworm Activity: Earthworms are vital indicators of soil health. Nutrient Plus creates an environment conducive to their activity, which in turn improves soil structure and nutrient cycling.​
• Optimal Habitat for Beneficial Microbes: The product provides a favorable environment for beneficial microbes, enhancing their ability to support plant health and soil fertility.​

The Science Behind Nutrient Plus

Besides the extended shelf life, the efficacy of Nutrient Plus lies in its dual-action approach:​

1. Carbon-Infused Nutrients: Carbon is a fundamental building block for microbial life. By incorporating carbon into its formulation, Nutrient Plus supplies an immediate source for soil microbes, promoting their growth and activity.​
2. Micelle Technology: Micelles are microscopic structures that enhance the delivery and absorption of nutrients by coming together to form ball-like shapes that can carry other substances inside of them. The use of micelle technology in Nutrient Plus ensures that nutrients are more readily available to both plants and microbes, optimizing their uptake and utilization.​

The Story Behind Our Depleted Soil

Let’s talk a little more about why so many farmers are dealing with depleted soils – soils unable to Feed Life the way that they should.

With the development of chemical salt-based fertilizers we see the development of the MORE ON famer, who uses MORE fertilizer, for higher yields, thus lowering the pH of the soil, burning up his organic matter and making the plants more susceptible to sap-sucking insects. Now he uses insecticides/pesticides to kill the bad bugs and kills the beneficial ones at the same time. And due to increased fungal pressures, he is forced to begin using fungicides. As if this wasn’t enough, farmers now routinely use Round-up as a weed killer. This further chelates (or binds) the nutrients in the soil.

World, we’ve got a problem.

The Essence of Soil Health

Soil is far more than just a medium for anchoring plants; as we said, it’s a dynamic ecosystem teeming with life. A single gram of healthy soil can contain over 75,000 different bacteria and more than 25,000 fungi, all interacting within a complex food web. These microorganisms form the mycorrhizal network and play pivotal roles in nutrient cycling, organic matter decomposition, and the suppression of soil-borne diseases. When this microbial community thrives, plants benefit from improved nutrient availability, better root development, and increased resistance to pests and diseases.

Soil has three properties that work together to maximize a plant’s potential—physical properties (the soil structure), chemical properties (mineral nutrients), and biological properties (microbial life). Together, these three components form a biological entity similar to living tissue with complex biochemical reactions. Some components give life and some take it away, all in varying degrees.

The key to building a healthy soil is to provide a favorable habitat for these billions upon billions of soil microbes that constitute the foundations of soil and plant life. As these soil microbes constantly work in this unseen symbiotic universe, they consume carbon, protect plants, and provide them with vital nutrients that build organic matter and help to store water in the soil profile.

However, modern agricultural practices, such as excessive tillage and the overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, have disrupted these natural processes. This disruption leads to soil degradation, reduced fertility, and a decline in crop yields. To counteract these challenges, farmers are realizing that they must enhance the biological properties of the soil.

Addressing Soil Health Indicators

So how do you know if your soil needs help?

Determining soil health involves assessing various indicators:​

• Water Infiltration: Healthy soil allows water to penetrate easily, reducing runoff and ensuring that plants have adequate moisture.​
• Soil Structure: Soil that crumbles easily indicates good structure, which is essential for root development and air circulation.
• Plant Vigor: Productive, healthy-looking plants are a direct reflection of soil fertility and health.​
• Earthworm Presence: A thriving earthworm population signifies active organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling.​

If these indicators are lacking—manifested by stressed plants, low brix levels, and scarce earthworm activity—it’s a clear sign that the soil’s biological properties need help!

In such cases, incorporating a potent bio-catalyst like Nutrient Plus can help to rejuvenate the soil ecosystem, restoring both its LIFE and its life-giving potential.

How to Apply Nutrient Plus

Directions:

An in-row furrow application is ideal for corn, soybeans, wheat, grain sorghum, rice, sunflowers, peanuts, alfalfa and related crops if a planter is equipped with a liquid applicator.

Nutrient Plus works well as a foliar application on most crops. Nutrient Plus can also be applied through fertigation systems.

Several 32 oz. per acre applications of Nutrient Plus will do more to increase biology longer term than will a single larger application.   We recommend at a minimum one quart per acre at planting and ideally a follow-up foliar application or two.

An initial application of Nutrient Plus (32 oz. per acre) can be made when applying herbicide for a burn down, with a pre- emergence chemical application or in-furrow with a planter equipped with an in-row liquid applicator at a rate of 32 oz. of NP per acre.

For best results follow the recommendations for the specified crop in the application guide. Application guide available on request.

For Drip Irrigation Systems: Nutrient Plus: 1:100 mix. Use 3 oz. of NP per gallon for a 1:100 continuous drip. For weekly applications you can increase the NP to 5 oz. per gallon for a 1:100 mix.

Nutrient Plus is tank-mix compatible with most foliar fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides. We recommend routine soil and plant tissue testing to help maintain overall soil health and awareness of needs.

A physical compatibility test (jar test) is recommended before tank mixing Nutrient Plus with other products to ensure compatibility

If you are interested in learning more about what is working for other users or if you have any application questions for your own program, please feel free to contact us.

Source and Consistency of Nutrient Plus

In the past, farmers had little choice but to simply believe what the label and the salesman told them about their crop additives. But things have changed. The last couple of years have seen a significant advancement in the analysis of different bios. Users now can have a lot better idea of what they are getting in their products.

So how does Nutrient Plus score in a lab analysis? In a Biome Makers analysis Nutrient Plus shows 120 strains of bacteria and 78 fungi strains. In fact, Nutrient Plus has over a billion cells in just one milliliter of product!

Consistency is important. Lab analyses are a good way to show product consistency.  A number of products on the market today are made from compost teas and manure-based inputs. The consistency of these can vary depending on the inputs used in making them.

Global Implications for Sustainable Agriculture

As we have seen, the challenges facing modern agriculture are immense: soil degradation, poor understanding of regenerative farming, and the need to feed a growing global population. Central to overcoming these challenges is the adoption of sustainable practices that prioritize soil health. Nutrient Plus is an ideal product for farmers worldwide who want to enhance soil fertility without relying on synthetic inputs.​

By promoting microbial activity and improving soil structure, Nutrient Plus contributes to:​

• Improved Nutrient Cycling and Availability: Nutrient Plus helps with improved nutrient uptake and availability.
• Carbon Sequestration: Healthy soils can sequester significant amounts of carbon.
• Water Conservation: Improved soil structure enhances water retention, reducing the need for frequent irrigation and making crops more resilient to drought.​
• Biodiversity Enhancement: A thriving soil microbiome supports a diverse range of plant species, leading to more resilient ecosystems.​

Wrapping It Up

The future of agriculture depends on our ability to nurture and sustain the very foundation of our food supply—the soil we walk on every day. Products like Nutrient Plus from Agri-C Enrg offer a pathway to revitalizing our soils, promoting sustainable agriculture, and ensuring food security for the global population.

By utilizing products such as Nutrient Plus, farmers can finally feed the soil that, in turn, feeds LIFE around the world!

Ready to Experience Nutrient Plus for Yourself?

Reach out to Agri-C Enrg and find out more about what Nutrient Plus could do for YOUR farming operation today!