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Topsoil is used to grow 95 percent of our food, and it is disappearing ten times faster than it is being replaced: America’s corn belt has already lost much of its topsoil, threatening...
- Jon Heggie
- 2 min
Nov 11, 2024 · Soil is one of the main global reservoirs of biodiversity by providing habitats that support thousands of different species of fungi, bacteria and invertebrates. In fact, 25 percent of animal species on Earth live underground, while 40 percent of organisms in terrestrial ecosystems are associated with soil at some point during their lifecycles.
Jul 25, 2022 · Below are the ten reasons why soil is important: #1. Soil for food production. Fertile soils are the foundation for agriculture because it provides a hospitable place for plants to live and grow by providing dissolved minerals, and moderating temperature fluctuations optimal for plant growth.
Soil is our life support system. Soils anchor roots, hold water and store nutrients. Soils are home to earthworms, termites and a myriad of micro-organisms that fix nitrogen and decompose organic matter. We build on soil as well as with it.
Mar 16, 2023 · For example, rotating between nitrogen-fixing crops, like legumes, and non-nitrogen-fixing crops, like cereals, can add nitrogen to the soil and improve fertility. Crop rotation can also break the life cycle of pests and diseases that are specific to certain crops.
Aug 3, 2023 · The health of our soil is essential for supporting the growth and survival of native vegetation, which provides habitat and food for wildlife. Healthy soil also reduces the risk of soil erosion, nutrient runoff and water pollution, which can have negative impacts on the environment and human health.
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In exploring the link between soil and agriculture, this article will highlight 1) our transition from hunter-gatherer to agrarian societies; 2) the major soil properties that contribute to...