Strategies Promoting Healthy Soil

In this article, we discuss a number of ways to enhance healthy soil using techniques which I’ve been proven to be effective through extensive research and years of observations. Related, our article on Understanding Soil is a good primer helping to build a more complete picture. You can also visit the soil resources page from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

Minimize Soil Disturbance

There are numerous reasons why it is important to minimize soil disturbance. Soil disturbance disrupts soil structure, fragments soil aggregates, significantly reduces the population of microorganisms and earthworms, and consequently diminishes their beneficial functions. It also damages soil pores and disrupts beneficial fungi networks (mycrorhizae) that assist plants in accessing water and nutrients. This, in turn, directly leads to soil compaction, poor drainage, and erosion and promotes the growth and abundance of weeds. It hinders the decomposition of organic matter as more microorganisms are killed, reducing the availability of nutrients for plants. Additionally, healthy soil stores carbon, and, by disturbing soil, it can release substantial amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Minimizing soil disturbance enhances carbon sequestration, contributing to a reduction in global warming.

Refrain from tilling your garden or disturbing your garden bed in an attempt to enhance its aesthetics. While certain disturbances are unavoidable, it is advisable to minimize them in order to foster the development of healthier soil. When planting, directly sow the seeds or seedlings into the soil, creating a hole or trough as necessary. However, it is crucial to leave the surrounding soil undisturbed. To enhance soil fertility, apply compost on top of the soil, but refrain from burying it. Allow earthworms to naturally distribute the compost throughout the soil.

Keep your Soil Covered

To enhance soil health, maximize soil coverage and shelter it. This can be effectively achieved by cultivating plants and accumulating their residues, such as grass clippings, chopped straw, and dead leaves. These organic matter components contribute to the accumulation of nutrients, thereby promoting improved plant growth and microbial activity. Mulching is of course always an option. These measures collectively suppress weed growth, retain moisture in the soil, improve soil health, or simply cover bare soil for aesthetic purposes. They additionally shield the soil from the detrimental effects of rainfall, preventing soil overheating during periods of high temperatures. Furthermore, they mitigate soil degradation and erosion and suppress weed growth.

Maximize Living Roots in Your Soil

The presence of living roots in the soil for as much of the year as possible is crucial for maintaining the functionality of the underground ecosystem. Root biomass significantly contributes to the accumulation of organic matter. The abundance of roots provides a superior food source for microorganisms, as they exclude sugars produced by living roots. Consequently, the increased root density facilitates the efficient transfer of nutrients and water to the microbiome, leading to a corresponding surge in their numbers. Additionally, roots serve as conduits for the circulation of air and water.

Use of Cover Crops

One effective strategy to enhance root development in the soil is the utilization of cover crops. Once the cover crop’s growth cycle has concluded, it can be replaced with a different type of plant. Different cover crops offer distinct benefits, such as acting as scavenger soil builders, erosion preventers, and weed fighters. However, it is important to note that some cover crops may succumb to freezing temperatures, while others require herbicide application or plowing to eliminate them.

Here are examples of annual crops that will perish with a killing frost:

* Oats: Oats have a fibrous root system and can grow rapidly within a short time frame. They are beneficial soil builders that aid in preventing erosion and loosening the topsoil.

* Oilseed Radish: Oilseed radish is known for its quick growth and ability to penetrate the soil, breaking it up, particularly in clay soils. It is also a soil builder.

* Buckwheat: Buckwheat grows exceptionally fast, making it ideal for short-term cultivation. However, it is crucial to prevent it from going to seed.

* Sorghum: Sorghum is a tall grass that can be mowed down and will continue to grow within increased height. It is a soil builder and an effective erosion preventer.

* Soybean Beans, Peas, and Clover: These legumes are excellent sources of nitrogen. 

Maximize Plant Diversity

Increasing plant diversity is a crucial component of soil health. In contrast, monocultures restrict the variety of soil creatures that can thrive. It is essential to cultivate a diverse population of plants. This diversity leads to below-ground diversity, as different species of plants associate with various soil organisms. The soil food web functions optimally when as many of these relationships are present. Furthermore, diversity can disrupt insect and disease cycles by promoting the proliferation of beneficial, pacifying microbes in the soil.

Our article on crop rotation and companion planting gives scientifically proven approach for plant diversity and plant rotations.