Are you stuck in the “lime every few years” cycle?
Soil scientist Phil Mulvey joins me in the vineyard to unpack how pH really works — from aluminium toxicity and CEC (cation exchange capacity) to buffering and why plant diversity can stabilise pH and rebuild soil structure. We compare lime vs a biological approach (multi-species covers, legumes, deep-rooters) and preview a follow-up on fungal inoculation.
What you’ll learn:
Why pH ≈ 6–6.5 maximises nutrient availability
The 5.2 pH aluminium toxicity cliff and shallow rootsHow CEC and organic matter “glues” create aggregation, infiltration & drought resilience
Practical seed-mix ideas for vineyards & grazing to buffer pH biologically
📍 Location: Australia (vineyard)🌱
Seed sources mentioned: Ardent Seeds (TAS) / ardentseeds mixes (mid-row & under-vine)
👤 Guest: Soil scientist Phil Mulvey
🚜 Tractor cameo: Ferguson TEA20
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Phil Mulvey joins Tim Thompson in the debut episode of Digging Deeper to discuss how can we restore fragile, sandy soils and stop erosion in its tracks.
Watch on Youtube