Yes. Living roots feed the hundreds of species that make up topsoil. Those microbes in turn feed the roots. It's an underground ecosystem dependent on the sun & solar collectors (leaves). If grazed too little or too much it is not as efficient. If the land manager is attentive and thoughtful the proper balance will build topsoil without chemicals, e.g., fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides. Input in dollars is replaced by comprehensive (holistic) land management. The latter can't be taxed away. It doesn't come from the bank (not someone else's work). It comes from the consciencious farmer thinking as he farms. In the end a farmer grows plants that grow topsoil. If he is not growing topsoil, he is not a farmer. He is a miner. He mines the fertility of the soil until it "plays out" or he goes bankrupt borrowing to keep his unsustainable mining going. This is what created the midwest dust bowl.

For someone just beginning with rotational grazing, how do we manage the land for the first year or so. I'm specifically asking about applying chemical fertilize. Do I gradually use less while the cattle are rotating through the paddocks with the goal 0 chemical fertilize within 1-3 years? Thanks for this great information!

why would you use chemicals? are you not able to give your grasses enough time to recover?

Yes, but recovery time is not the same thing as fertilization. I don't believe that doing two rotations through the farm will result in the amount of organic matter to get the growth potential that I need.

if you think your not getting enough organtic matter on the ground the you need to make your paddocks tighter. that will put organic matter on the ground, give you some more recovery time, and evenly spread manure through your pasture. i would avoid chemicals, it will harm your beneficial microbes and worms.