Promoting biodiversity is central to the success of regenerative cropping, and photosynthesis drives biodiversity.
“Research shows that many plants are only operating at 11% of their photosynthetic potential, so you can have a paddock full of green stuff that isn’t reaching its potential. We are finding that as soil health improves, photosynthetic capacity increases, akin to having more solar panels in a solar farm.”
“Under irrigation, where water is not a limiting factor, it is possible to increase photosynthetic capacity fivefold, in turn increasing yield fivefold. But under dryland conditions, our goal would be to double it,” McLean said.
“The plant knows where it needs to direct its energy, and the healthier the soil, the more the plant partitions energy into production. As soil health improves, the plant directs more carbohydrates into above-ground production and shunts less carbohydrates through its roots to drive soil health repair.”
Another benefit of improving soil health is reduced risk. Regenerating soil results in higher Brix measurements in crops – a measurement of dissolved sugar in the leaves. Two of the many benefits of higher Brix readings are improved frost tolerance and reduced insect predation.
Ran Mitchell, a regenerative cropper west of North Star in NSW, has witnessed this first-hand. “For three days, I watched a thick swarm of plague locusts fly right across my healthy cowpea crop to eat a struggling crop on the property next door. It was quite incredible,” Mitchell said.
If you’re ready to start exploring the principles of regenerative agriculture in more detail, we have courses and workshops designed for all levels and schedules.