World Soil Day 2023 - Soil and Water, A Source of Life

Did you know that December 5th is World Soil Day (WSD)? The UN designated it as such in 2013 to bring attention to the issues we face concerning soil health and the solutions we can employ to improve it.

This year’s theme highlights that our survival depends on the precious link between soil and water. These two resources are fundamental for the functioning of all our terrestrial ecosystems and 95% of our food originates from them.

What makes soil so important?

A rich biodiversity in the soil is key to all the functions that we and all terrestrial life depend on. The hidden flora and fauna in the soils, like earthworms, insects, fungi and bacteria and their interaction with the root spheres of plants, are critical to nutrient cycling, controlling pests and diseases and maintaining a good soil structure. Healthy, active soils lead to strong, productive plants. They are also far more adaptable to diverse weather conditions. A soil high in organic matter and soil life will retain and contain more water, as well as improve filtration and is better able to deal with drought or high rainfall events.

Healthy soil is also known to sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide, drawing it down for long periods of time. This is becoming increasingly important as society struggles to meet climate goals.

Digging Deeper - What's happening to soil?

You would think that with this knowledge and understanding we would be taking excellent care of this precious resource, when in fact the opposite is true.   

Modern agriculture uses many advancements to save time and boost productivity, however in the vast majority of cases soil is worked on rather than with. Excessive ploughing, chemical fertilisers, fungicides & monoculture cropping bring us further and further from the natural equilibriums, in a negative feedback loop. Reducing soil organic matter, leading to more inputs.

Topsoil is being lost at an alarming rate (over 20 billion tonnes a year globally) much of this is ending up in the waterways. This is leading to the pollution of the water, along with the loss of soil biodiversity. It’s estimated that only 1% of soil microbes have been identified so far, imagine how many will never be discovered at all.

This isn’t just affecting the cost and efficiency of agriculture, it's also a driving force when it comes to flooding, increased atmospheric carbon dioxide and biodiversity loss.

What can we do to help?

It’s not all doom and gloom, there are many ways to recover soil and subsequently water health. Observing nature and creating technologies to help us emulate it is making Regenerative Agriculture more popular and accessible. There are also many natural resources that can be applied to feed soil, such as Soil Conditioners and Improvers.

Some methods that have been shown to improve soil organic matter and health are:

  • Minimising Soil Disturbance: Reduce or eliminate tillage to maintain soil structure.
  • Increasing Ground Cover: Utilise mulching and cover cropping to ensure consistent soil coverage.
  • Diversifying Crops: Introduce a variety of crops, promoting biodiversity and enhancing soil health. For example; Multi Species Swards.
  • Reducing Chemical usage: Decrease reliance on chemicals and encourage natural processes.
  • Reducing Fungicides: Minimise fungicide use to allow mycelium to re-establish in the soil.
  • Following Rotations: Implement crop rotations to avoid nutrient depletion.
  • Using Soil Tests: Conduct soil tests for more precise nutrient applications.
  • Composting: Convert green waste into compost to enhance organic matter.

Growing using organic principles is a great way to cover many of these bases, but you don’t have to be registered as organic to start making positive changes.

Where can you find out more?

You can check out the Official World Soil Day Webpage.

Read about organic growing through the Organic Research Centre.

Take a course or attend a seminar held by the National Organic Training Skill Net ( NOTS)

Read our blog listings about; Pasture Mixes, Regenerative Gardening, Soil Conditioners,  Soil Testing & Green Manures/ Cover Crops.