By: Sami Grover
We all know that healthy soils are a central part of sustainability. From carbon sequestration to increased crop production, it’s hard to overestimate the contribution good soil can make to our collective well-being (or the damage that can be done by abusing this most precious of resources). Contrary to common misconceptions, healthy soil is more than just a jumble of inert organic matter and nutrients – it is also a hugely complex, living, breathing community of micro-organisms and mini-beasts. From mychorrhizal fungi that form symbiotic relationships with plants, to creatures that digest, break down and redistribute organic matter, the amount of life in a single teaspoon of soil is astounding. According to Dr. Elaine R. Ingham, Associate Research Professor in the Department of Forest Science at Oregon State University: “Agricultural soil should have 600 million bacteria in a teaspoon. There should be approximately three miles of fungal hyphae in a teaspoon of soil. There should be 10,000 protozoa and 20 to 30 beneficial nematodes in a teaspoon of soil.”
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