Soil is made up of many things, but did you know that soils are alive just like the plants that grow in them? Along with non-living particles like sand or clay, soil houses both macro- and micro-organisms that sustain life both below and above ground. The book “Building Soils for Better Crops” described soil as a diverse community of over 100,000 living organisms. Moles, rabbits, earthworms, bacteria, fungi, and insects all play an important role in the soil ecosystem and in plant health. Soil organisms, whether they be small or large, keep ecosystems in balance, move nutrients around, break down organic matter, make nutrients available and aerate the soil. For examples, earthworms may not seem important to soil health, but they are one of the most important soil organisms. According to “Building Soils for Better Crops,” earthworms can create 800,000 underground channels per acre of soil that allow water to reach greater depths and provide more efficient infiltration rates during rain events. Earthworms are also remarkably good at moving soil particles. “Building Better Soils for Better Crops’ states that on 1 acre, earthworms can move 1,000 tons of soil per year. Woah! That’s equivalent to over 100 African Elephants!
Click this link (https://bit.ly/1MiGJT5)to view a fun and informative short video called “Soils Are Living” from the Soil Science Society of America as part of their 2015 Year of Soils effort. If you want to read more about soil organisms, follow this link (https://bit.ly/2x31l2N) to the “The Living Soil” chapter in “Building Better Soil for Better Crops.”
Click this link (https://bit.ly/1MiGJT5)to view a fun and informative short video called “Soils Are Living” from the Soil Science Society of America as part of their 2015 Year of Soils effort. If you want to read more about soil organisms, follow this link (https://bit.ly/2x31l2N) to the “The Living Soil” chapter in “Building Better Soil for Better Crops.”
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