After a long growing season, your soil has done some heavy lifting. Some fields may still be waterlogged from recent rains, while others are compacted or on the dry side. Either way, autumn puts your soil biology to the test. And that biology is exactly what you need to jump-start your next season.
Here’s how to support microbial recovery in 5 practical steps.
A healthy soil teems with life: bacteria, fungi, worms and countless other microorganisms break down organic matter and release nutrients. But once harvest is over, that balance begins to shift. Rainfall, colder temperatures, and compaction all reduce the amount of air in the soil. When pores stay filled with water or when the soil structure collapses, oxygen disappears, cutting off the supply microbes need to function.
Aerobic microbes—those responsible for most nutrient conversions—become inactive or die off. They’re temporarily replaced by anaerobic bacteria that use nitrates or sulphates as alternative electron acceptors instead of oxygen. This leads to byproducts like hydrogen sulphide, which can inhibit root development and seed germination.
In short: a lack of oxygen disrupts your biological balance, and it won’t bounce back on its own once the soil dries out.
Many growers don’t notice the effects until spring: slow-drying soils, delayed mineralisation, and sluggish early crop growth. And that’s no coincidence.
Microorganisms are the engine behind those processes. When their population drops, the natural nutrient cycle slows down. Organic nitrogen remains locked up, phosphorus and trace elements become less available, and root growth weakens.
You’ll see the impact next season in:
By restoring microbial balance now, you give the biology time to recover, so your soil is active and resilient when spring arrives.
Soil life needs oxygen to stay active. Avoid compaction and premature tillage that closes off airways.
What you can do:
Microorganisms depend on organic matter as a food source. Without it, their activity quickly declines.
What you can do:
This way, microbes stay fed, even during the off-season.
In addition to air and organic matter, targeted stimulation can speed up recovery. Micromix is a biostimulant that supports microbial activity and helps restore biological balance.
Micromix promotes:
Growers report that soils treated with Micromix tend to warm up more quickly in spring, are easier to cultivate, and promote stronger early crop development.
Green manure crops are the perfect partner for Micromix: their roots deliver oxygen and sugars into the soil through exudates, creating ideal conditions for soil biology.
💡 Tip: use green manure as a food source, and Micromix to boost biological recovery.
Together, they keep your soil biologically active, even outside the growing season.
Timing plays a big role in Micromix’s effectiveness.
Important:
Healthy soils need three things: oxygen, organic matter, and time.
A soil that recovers well in autumn lays the foundation for a resilient field in the next season. Active microbial life improves soil structure, enhances water management, and increases the availability of nitrogen, phosphorus, and trace elements. And that investment pays off in the long run.
You’ll see the difference in crops that root more effectively, suffer less from stress, and perform more consistently, even under variable conditions.
Whether your field was too wet, compacted, or too dry this season: autumn is the perfect time to bring your soil back into balance. By giving your soil oxygen, organic matter and targeted stimulation with Micromix, you give microbial life the chance to recover and thrive.
Come spring, your soil will be ready to perform.
Want to learn more about how Micromix supports soil recovery?
Get in touch for personalised advice or explore the product page.
