Plant communities exist in equilibrium with the soil and climate. One gram of soil may contain 10 thousand species and a billion individuals. Carbon fuels the biological function of soil, and as nutrients are dissolved from soil minerals and made available through rhizosphere processes, which include fungal nutrient transport. Many land-disturbing processes result in the depletion of soil carbon and soil nutrients. Restoration of the plant community requires reinvigoration of soil processes. Seeding alone is often inadequate to reestablish vigorous plant growth. NutraFix provides the basic building blocks for native perennial plants to thrive. These robust plants, in turn, develop deep and enduring root systems that restart organic matter accumulation and the associated equilibrium between late successional plant communities and the soil they depend on.

NutraFix emphasizes micronutrient fertilizers and is produced from naturally occurring minerals from the earth, including iron, copper, zinc, boron, and manganese.

NutraFix is applied as a dry granular fertilizer using conventional spreaders. Nutrafix micronutrient fertilizer is best applied in the late summer through the early fall, prior to the period of active plant growth. See detailed application instructions here: How to Apply.

The amount of micronutrient fertilizer required depends on the density of existing desirable perennial plants on your site. Lower NutraFix rates are recommended for sites with high desirable plant cover, while higher rates are recommended for sites with low desirable plant cover.

Follow the directions on this page to see general guidelines for application rates.

NutraFix is slow-acting, but long-lasting.

NutraFix is a granular fertilizer and can take time to dissolve into the soil solution. Changing the soil chemistry is not a process that occurs overnight. It may take at least one growing season to see effects. The results from one application, however, have been seen to last many years (3 or 5 or even 7 years and counting in some cases!).

Some sites may need multiple applications. Retention of nutrients is lower in soils that are predominantly sand or low in organic matter. Nutrient retention is also governed by climate, soil characteristics, site management, and unplanned disturbances such as wildfire.

Grasslands, prairies, or savannas cover 20-40% of the earth’s surface and are endangered by climate change, wildfires, conversion to farming or development, and invasive species.

The wildlife, watersheds, and people that live on the landscapes of the world’s grasslands are dependent on the economic output from rangelands used for livestock production, wildlands that conserve wild birds and animals, and watersheds that serve as sources of drinking water. Our grasslands are at risk of increasing fire frequency, loss of agricultural productivity, losses of wildlife populations, and other hazards.

NutraFix replenishes nutrients lost from degraded soils. Enhancing the soil in this way accelerates the growth of perennial vegetation, improves soil structure to promote infiltration, and allows deep root growth. These conditions increase soil organic matter and allow plants to withstand drought better.

Key benefits of NutraFix include:

• Nutrient-dense soil to support microbial life

• Enhanced nutrient uptake by plants through mycorrhizae and soil fungi

• Improved soil aggregation for better water infiltration, gas exchange, and root penetration

• Long-term stability and self-regeneration

• Native seed bank stimulation

NutraFix is a seed-friendly soil amendment. Based on observations from various test plots, this product can often stimulate the dormant seed bank in the soil, leading to a noticeable increase in native perennial grass diversity, often without the need to reseed. This means that after applying NutraFix, you could see more diverse and robust plant growth on your land, all thanks to the natural seeds already present in the soil.

Inside of NutraFix test plot is dominated by western wheatgrass (blueish tone, native perennial grass) without any seeding. The surrounding vegetation is dominated by cheatgrass and mustard.

Annual and perennial are ways of describing the life cycle of a plant. Annual vegetation germinates, grows, reproduces, and dies in the span of one year. Perennial vegetation grows and lives for three or more years. These terms are important because they help us think about how to approach the management of the vegetation, whether it is annual or perennial.

Annual Vegetation:

Annual plants can easily turn into invaders with prolific seed production and typical fast growth. This can allow for these invasive annuals to thrive and push out desired plants. For example, cheatgrass is an invasive annual grass that has short, shallow roots. Cheatgrass, among other invasive annual grasses, reduces forage, increases fire risk, and impacts wildlife habitat.

Perennial Vegetation:

Perennial grasses and forbs can typically have deeper, thicker roots that add organic matter to the soil and allow plants to better withstand drought conditions. These perennial plants help to minimize soil erosion with their deep roots.

Invasive plants, unlike weeds, are generally described as those that can successfully establish, become naturalized, and spread to new natural habitats without assistance from humans.

These plants are resilient and will grow in places where native and desirable species cannot. Invasive plants have certain characteristics that allow for them to take over, such as rapid growth, continually producing seeds (if conditions permit), high seed output, and high plasticity (meaning the ability of an organism to change in response to stimuli or inputs from the environment).

Radosevich SR, Holt JS, Ghersa CM (2007) Ecology of Weeds and Invasive Plants. John Wiley & Sons

Oh yes. Anecdotally, both wildlife and livestock appear to prefer the nutrient-dense forage resulting from the NutraFix Micronutrient Fertilizer application.

Will NutraFix Micronutrient Fertilizer Help Reduce Wildfire Hazards?

NutraFix strongly influences the growth of perennial grasses that stay green later in the season and are therefore more fire-resistant.

Just like for humans, micronutrients are important for healthy plant growth. Later, successional (typically desirable) plants require a proper balance of essential nutrients to thrive.

Boron (B) is a trace element that is an important component of plant cell walls, plant growth, pollination, and seed formation. Boron has been cited to have human health benefits in multiple studies.

Copper (Cu) is one of eight essential plant micronutrients. Copper is required for many enzymatic activities in plants and is a key element of chlorophyll, playing a vital role in photosynthesis. The human body uses copper to carry out many important functions, including making energy, connective tissues, and blood vessels.

Iron (Fe) is involved in many important compounds and physiological processes in plants. Iron is involved in the manufacturing process of chlorophyll, and it is required for certain enzyme functions. Iron is also a mineral that the human body needs for growth and development.

Manganese (Mn) is required for photosynthesis, nitrogen metabolism, lignin synthesis, root growth, and activation of many enzymatic systems. Manganese is active in many human health processes such as blood clotting, bone formation, and reproductive health.

Zinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient for plant life. Zinc promotes stronger root development and can help the plant withstand cold temperatures. Most critical of all is zinc’s role in the formation of carbohydrates, proteins, and chlorophyll. Zinc is also involved in many aspects of human metabolism.