About Succession Soils
The story, science and practical experience behind South Africa's precision approach to restoring living soils beneath commercial orchards.
Founder
Mike Jackson
Succession Soils was founded on a simple observation: the soil beneath most commercial orchards in South Africa is biologically dead—stripped of the fungal networks, mycorrhizal associations and microbial diversity that tree crops evolved to depend on. Conventional management replaces biology with chemistry. It works, until it does not.
Mike Jackson has spent years working directly with macadamia, avocado and citrus orchards across KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. His approach combines hands-on orchard management with the latest biological soil science—measuring what is actually happening beneath the surface rather than guessing, and translating complex laboratory data into practical field interventions that commercial growers can implement immediately.
The Succession Soils Method draws on the work of leading soil ecologists and regenerative agronomists whose research has redefined how we understand the relationship between soil biology, plant nutrition and crop resilience.
Every recommendation is grounded in measurement. Every intervention is validated by data. The goal is not ideology—it is economically secure orchards built on ecologically resilient soils.
Scientific Foundations
The Research Behind the Method
The Succession Soils Method integrates practical farming experience with peer-reviewed soil science and the applied frameworks of leading regenerative agronomists.
Dr Elaine Ingham
Founder of the Soil Food Web approach. Her work on microbial biomass assessment, fungal-to-bacterial ratios and the role of soil biology in nutrient cycling forms the foundation of how we measure and interpret soil health.
John Kempf
Pioneer of plant sap analysis for crop nutrition management. His methodology for using real-time SAP data to identify and correct nutrient deficiencies before they affect yield is central to our precision approach.
Nicole Masters
Author of For the Love of Soil and leading educator on regenerative land management. Her practical frameworks for transitioning commercial farms without catastrophic yield loss directly inform our transition methodology.
Dr David Johnson
Researcher at the Institute for Sustainable Agricultural Research. His work on fungal-dominant composts and the relationship between soil microbial diversity and crop productivity underpins our biological input recommendations.
Our Approach
What Sets Us Apart
- Measurement before intervention. We never recommend inputs without baseline data. Every orchard starts with a full soil biology assessment and SAP analysis before any management changes are made.
- Biological science, not ideology. We are not anti-chemical on principle. We are pro-biology because the data shows that functional soil ecosystems reduce input dependency, improve plant immunity and build long-term orchard resilience.
- Commercial viability first. Every recommendation must make economic sense for the grower. Ecological improvement that comes at the cost of financial viability is not sustainable—and we do not ask farmers to accept that trade-off.
- Practical, not academic. Our reports come with step-by-step management actions you can implement in the field this week. No jargon-heavy documents that gather dust on a shelf.
- Transparent data. You own your soil biology and SAP data. We provide full laboratory results alongside our interpretations so you can track your orchard's biological trajectory over time.
Ready to Restore Your Orchard's Living Soil?
Book a free initial consultation. We will discuss your orchard, your challenges and whether the Succession Soils Method is right for your operation.
Book a Free Consultation