Some thoughts on soil
How’s your soil? Is it healthy? How can you tell? You can take a soil sample and have it tested and that is a great place to begin. As you are gathering your soil you can visibly see and feel if the soil is clay, silt, sand, or a combination called loam. We have a ton of clay soil in our garden beds. The clay holds on to nutrients and water, which is good in times of drought and bad when we get a deluge of rain. I have to be mindful of not compressing the soil by walking on it after a rain. A wood board is a great tool for walking on a wet flower bed.
The standard soil tests are going to tell you what is in your soil but not necessarily who is in your soil or give you microbiome counts. Bacteria, fungi, algae, protozoa nematodes and other microarthropods are our underground gardeners. Bacteria produce natural antibiotics to help the plants resist disease. Fungi helps plants in absorbing nutrients and its ability to absorb and retain water, reducing the need for irritation and increasing drought resistance. A typical vegetable garden needs as much fungi in the soil as bacteria. All these microbiome creatures need to be in the right proportion to feed plants and to minimize the pathogenic (bad) microbes. Together, they are known as organic matter and the more organic matter the healthier our soil is (Rodale Institute).
What is considered unhealthy soil? Soil that is frequently disturbed and over tilled, compacted, poisoned, or over fertilized. For example, a garden bed can be too high in bacteria material such as manure and too low in other nutrients. In a dysfunctional soil biome nutrients cannot reach the plant without protozoa nematodes and microarthropods. Industrial farmers rely on inputs such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (N-P-K). These fertilizers contain soluble salts which kill microbes, creating this vicious cycle that makes plants more reliant on these inputs which makes the soil poorer.
How can you restore or improve your soil? Compacted soil can be made healthy with a layer of organic matter or compost. Disturb the soil and soil structure as little as possible. Keep soil covered with plants, ground cover, or cover crops which helps retain moisture and protects soil from erosion (something I am currently working on). Plant a variety of plants that supports a diverse range of species and wildlife. Count the number of creatures you see in your garden. The variety of creatures in the soil will show how healthy your garden ecosystem is.
Picture taken at The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station.
