When it comes to soil testing, most growers look for numbers. But as Blake Weiseth, Corporate Agronomist at Western Ag, reminded us in our recent Soileos webinar, numbers alone don’t tell the whole story.
Soil analysis is more than a snapshot of nutrients. It’s an insight into how those nutrients move, interact, and become available to the crop. When you understand that movement, what Blake calls moving from metrics to mechanisms, you start to see why two fields with similar test results can deliver very different outcomes.
From Numbers to Nutrient Movement
During the session, Blake walked through how diffusion, temperature, and soil moisture control nutrient availability, especially for elements like potassium and phosphorus that don’t move easily through soil.
In dry or cool conditions, diffusion slows, roots can’t access nutrients efficiently, and yield potential drops. When soils are warm and moist, nutrient movement improves, and crops can access more of what is already in the ground.
That is where the conversation turned from testing to management, because understanding how nutrients behave helps growers make smarter decisions about timing, placement, and source.
Micros Matter More Than You Think
While macronutrients often steal the spotlight, micronutrients such as zinc, iron, manganese, and copper play crucial supporting roles. They power enzyme systems, strengthen root function, and influence how efficiently plants use nitrogen and phosphorus.
As Blake explained during the webinar, micronutrients are essential drivers of crop performance. They support the enzyme systems that help macronutrients do their job, improving overall nutrient efficiency and crop resilience.
Even small imbalances can limit ROI, especially in stressful seasons.
Rethinking Soil Health with Soileos
To close the discussion, Jason McNamee, General Manager of AGT Soileos, shared how Soileos’ bioactivated delivery system complements these agronomic insights.
Instead of relying on water solubility, Soileos uses a carbon-based platform made from upcycled oat hulls to release nutrients through microbial activity. The result is a steady, biologically timed nutrient supply that aligns with crop demand while supporting 4R practices and soil health.
“When the soil is warm and moist, when your crop actually needs nutrients, that’s when Soileos releases them,” says Jason McNamee, GM of AGT Soileos, and Co-founder of Lucent Bio.
The Takeaway
Soil tests tell you what's there.
Understanding the mechanisms behind them tells you what your crop can actually use. Pairing dynamic testing with bioactivated nutrition helps growers close that gap, delivering nutrients when and where they are needed most while improving soil function for seasons ahead.
Watch The Webinar: