As seen in Farm Weekly, 19/03/2026

Healthy soils are the foundation of productive farming, and increasingly growers across Western Australia are recognising the power of diverse plant systems to rebuild and protect their land as producers look for ways to improve soil structure, boost organic matter and make better use of winter rainfall.

Multi-species cover cropping is one of the most practical tools to achieve this, and Irwin Hunter & Co./IH Seeds' Cover Crop Plus Winter Mix is a carefully designed blend of 13 plant species that work together to suppress weeds, improve soil health and fertility, increase biomass and support resilient farming systems helping farmers utilise the strength of plant diversity to regenerate their paddocks.

Unlike traditional single-species cover crops, the Cover Crop Plus Winter Mix combines a wide range of plant types including legumes, grasses, cereals, brassicas and herbs.

Each species performs a different function and works as a team, improving soil structure, nutrient cycling and biological activity within the soil ecosystem, creating a balanced system that supports long-term soil improvement.

The Cover Crop Plus Winter Mix is also coated with BioNPK Powder S, a biological seed coating designed to support plant establishment and early root development.

BioNPK Powder S provides beneficial microorganisms that help plants access key nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium by making them more available in the soil, enhancing germination and protecting seedlings during establishment, creating a stronger and more resilient crop.

These beneficial microbes colonise the root zone as the crop establishes, helping stimulate root growth and improving nutrient uptake during the critical early stages of plant development.

The legumes within the mix — including field peas, vetch, lucerne and clovers — are particularly valuable for their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen and convert it into a plant-available form.

This natural nitrogen input helps improve soil fertility while reducing reliance on synthetic fertilisers.

Alongside the legumes are productive cereals and grasses such as cereal rye, oats, Amass Italian and Safeguard ryegrasses, which provide strong ground cover and produce large amounts of biomass.

This blanket of biomass protects the soil surface from erosion while adding valuable organic matter back into the soil as it breaks down.

Over time, that organic matter contributes to improved soil carbon and better soil structure.

Brassicas and herbs add another dimension to the mix.

Forage brassica and tillage radish are known for their deep taproots, which can penetrate compacted soil layers and improve aeration.

Meanwhile chicory, another component of the blend, develops a strong taproot capable of drawing moisture and nutrients from deeper in the soil profile.

Together these plants create a network of roots that improve soil structure and help increase water infiltration and retention — a particularly valuable trait in Western Australian farming systems where rainfall can be unpredictable.

Canadian soil health specialist Kevin Elmy has long advocated for plant diversity in farming systems and believes multi-species cover crops are a key tool for building resilient soils.

"Every plant species brings something different to the system," Mr Elmy said.

"When you grow a diversity of plants, you feed a diversity of soil biology, and that biology is what ultimately builds healthy, resilient soils."

That principle is increasingly relevant in Western Australian conditions, where soils are often sandy, low in organic matter and vulnerable to erosion if left bare between seasons.

A diverse cover crop acts as a living shield, protecting soil from wind and rainfall impact while capturing sunlight and converting it into valuable biomass.

Another advantage of the Cover Crop Plus Winter Mix is the flexibility it has within farming systems.

In mixed enterprises the Cover Crop Plus Winter mix can be lightly grazed by livestock while still delivering soil-building benefits allowing producers to maintain productivity while investing in long-term soil improvement.

Beyond broadacre agriculture, many small holdings, orchards, vineyards and lifestyle farms are also looking for ways to regenerate soil naturally while improving pasture and forage production.

As Western Australian farmers continue to focus on sustainability and long-term productivity, the value of plant diversity is becoming increasingly clear.

IHSeeds Cover Crop Plus Winter Mix demonstrates how diversity in the paddock can translate into healthier soils and more resilient farming systems by combining species that fix nitrogen, produce biomass, suppress weeds, break up soil compaction and stimulate soil biology.

Contact your local farm supplier or Irwin Hunter & Co for more information regarding the extensive range of pasture seed and mixes.