World Soil Day is celebrated on December 5th. It is an incredible resource that allows us to exist.
Here are five signs that your soil is healthy in honour of World Soil Day:
- Healthy soil is not visible. Healthy soil is hidden and protected by its natural armour. No-till farmers create healthy soils by planting directly in the stubble of the previous crop, instead of ploughing the soil. The stubble protects soil against erosion and preserves soil structure.
2. Living roots are found in healthy soil. Growing crops remove certain soil components and emit others. This creates a dynamic soil ecosystem. Most fields in farmland are bare for nine months of the year. Cover crops can be used to keep the system alive and dynamic throughout the year. These crops are planted between the commodity crop seasons in order to improve soil health.
3. A healthy soil is alive with organisms. In a teaspoonful of healthy soil, there are more organisms than people on earth! These organisms, such as earthworms and bacteria, play a key role in creating a resilient soil community which is resistant to pests and diseases, absorbs water like a sponge and provides nutrients for growing crops. For Soil Remediation, contact https://soilfix.co.uk/services/soil-and-groundwater-remediation/
4. Even when the weather is not cooperative, healthy soil can produce high yielding crops. Each 1% increase in organic matter can store an extra 20,000 gallons. This water could be used to grow crops in a drought.
5. Healthy soil is surrounded with healthy ecosystems and people. When soil thrives so do ecosystems, water and people. Healthy soil is able to absorb so much water, and it’s protected from erosion. This helps stop polluted runoff contaminating the water. This means that people can fish, swim, and drink cleaner water!