1. Understand the principles of the Albrecht model to optimise soil restoration.
2. Understand the roles and requirements of all minerals for both soils and plants, and how they can work together or become antagonistic toward one another.
3. Understand why some soils have good structure and are easy to work, while others are hard and clumpy. (E.g., high-magnesium soils become hard-setting in summer and wet in winter — why?)
4. Understand the dangers of over-fertilisation, whether conventional or organic, and how it can create mineral imbalances in your soil.
5. Understand variations in soil fertility within the same property due to differences in management practices (e.g., day and night grazing areas on a dairy farm, hay paddocks, land contour) — and how these different areas may require different fertility programmes for optimum productivity.
6. Understand the benefits, dangers, and implications of long-term use of the same types of fertilisers — and how crop failures or soil degradation can occur as a result.
7. Understand your own soil’s fertiliser requirements so you can work more effectively with your fertiliser agent or consultant to achieve better results.
8. Understand individual plant requirements, nutrient content, and the role of foliar-applied minerals.
9. Understand how your fertiliser programme influences pasture, crop, vegetable, and fruit palatability, nutritional quality, and animal acceptance and production.
10. Understand that all composts have nutritional content and should be treated as fertilisers.
11. Understand how soil nutritional balance affects pasture palatability, animal production, and the quality of hay and silage.
12. Understand how your fertiliser programme can improve the flavour and shelf life of fruit, wine, and vegetables, and reduce wastage.
