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Healthy soil is one of the most effective ways farmers can increase crop productivity and profitability both now and in the years to come. That’s because good soil is balanced - it provides an environment that helps sustain the plants, soil microbes and beneficial insects you need for a successful harvest, again and again. And this just scratches the surface of why healthy soil matters.
What healthy soil can do
Healthy soil is porous, allowing air and water to move more freely. This leads to a habitat that can better support growing crops and benefits farm operations of all sizes with optimized inputs and the increased ability to bounce back from the unexpected, such as weather and pests.
With healthy soil you can:
- Save energy from no-till farming and maximized nutrient cycling
- Save water and increase drought and flood tolerance through improved infiltration and water holding capacity
- Reduce disease and pest problems
- Increase income for farms and ranches
- Reduce runoff and erosion
- Improve plant health and crop yield through effective root growth
What you can do
The key to healthy soil is an increase in soil organic matter, or SOM. SOM affects several functions that are critical to helping plants, animals, and even humans thrive. To increase your SOM:
Protect the Soil
Minimize disturbance – SOM is highest at the surface, so protect it from degrading forces - such as wind and water - with no till practices.
Maximize soil cover – Use cover crops to help with temperature fluctuations, evaporation rates and water retention.
Feed the Soil
Maximize biodiversity – Increase the diversity of soil and above-ground plants and animals to break disease cycles, provide for pollinators and stimulate plant growth.
Maximize presence of living roots – Cover crops and crop rotation can work to strengthen the soil and break disease/pest cycles.
Farmers who manage their land in ways that improve soil health often see benefits in the first year and well into the future.
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Read More Related East Coast Soil Health Articles Here
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