Why Soil Health Matters

Imagine this: 100 years from now, Earth has become uninhabitable due to environmental neglect. Crops fail due to poor soil health, people grow sick from consuming artificial additives, and the population slowly begins to dwindle. This may sound like the plot of the 2008 film WALL·E, but it’s important to remember that the movie was meant to be a glimpse into our potential future. With that in mind, how much importance should we be placing on the health of soil?

It may sound dramatic, but soil health is vital to the overall well-being of our planet. Healthy soil doesn’t just provide more nutrients for our crops, but it sustains the foundation of our ecosystem. Insects, bugs, and countless other organisms depend on nutrient-rich soil to survive. Without it, the entire food chain would eventually collapse.

To protect our soil, we first need to understand the basic science of soil health and the nutrients that make it thrive. Then, we must identify what’s degrading it to understand how to restore and protect one of Earth’s most valuable resources.

The Nutrient Composition of Soil

Let’s start with the basics. Plants need sunlight and water to grow, but they also require nutrients to stay healthy. Through their roots, they absorb vitamins and minerals from the soil they’re anchored in. Most soils contain these six essential nutrients to help support plant health: nitrogen, calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, and sulfur.¹ Each one of these nutrients contributes to overall plant health in different ways.

• Nitrogen is essential for healthy plant growth. It enters the soil through nitrogen cycling, starting as atmospheric nitrogen and then transforming into nitrate, which plants can absorb. Despite its abundance, nitrogen is easily washed away by rainfall or lost to the air when it’s converted into a gas.^1,2
• Calcium is important for root development and function in plants. It’s absorbed into the plant and then becomes a part of the plant’s cell walls, membrane, and overall structure. Notably, sandy soils are more likely to be calcium deficient than other soil types.^1,3
• Potassium supports plant metabolism, promotes healthy growth, and strengthens resistance to disease. It’s often abundant in silt, clay, and sandy soils, and can also be found in certain bacteria and fungi within soil ecosystems.^1,4
• Magnesium is a key nutrient in the photosynthesis process that helps plants make their own energy stores. Magnesium levels in plants are important for nutrient content, flavor, texture, and shelf life of horticultural produce.^1,5
• Phosphorus helps the plant photosynthesize energy from the sun and helps overall plant growth. This nutrient is found more commonly in warm, humid climates.^1,6
• Sulfur plays an essential role in the energy production process of plants. It also influences the taste and aroma of plants as they grow. Additionally, sulfur maintains a symbiotic relationship with certain fungi. Without this nutrient, the fungal side of the ecosystem would likely collapse.^1,7

These nutrients are the foundation of the foods we eat, and if their balance is interrupted, it can lead to soil degradation.

How Soil Pollution Affects Soil Health

One of the leading causes of soil degradation is soil pollution, which occurs when soil becomes contaminated by either natural or human activities. Pollutants like the ones listed below contaminate the soil and are eventually absorbed by plants:¹

• Heavy metals
• Plastics
• Pesticides
• Pathogens

Those pollutants remain a part of the plant even after processing and can end up in the foods that we eat. Although the amount we consume is very minimal, if consumed over a long period, it has the potential to negatively impact human health.⁸

Soil pollution not only jeopardizes overall health but also puts the ecosystem at risk of deterioration. When soil begins to break down, plants struggle to grow and survive, which can lead to a gradual decline in our food sources. Identifying and eliminating the root causes of soil pollution are essential for maintaining the long-term health of our soil.

Natural Soil Pollution

It is challenging to pinpoint a single source of the various pollutants that can be detected in soil. Some of these pollutants are residue from erosion that is mixed into the soil. Others come from naturally occurring fossil fuels, such as crude oil, which can increase the soil’s heavy metal content.⁹ The plants and produce grown in these environments may lead to heavy metal bioaccumulation in human populations if consumed.⁹

Manmade Soil Pollution

One of the biggest contributors to soil pollution is a common product you probably have in your shed or garage: plant fertilizer.

According to a 2018 review on inorganic and organic fertilizers, “the excess use of inorganic fertilizers in agriculture can lead to soil deterioration, soil acidification, and environment pollution.”¹⁰ When soil health and nutrients are depleted, it can make the soil uninhabitable for new plants to grow. Namely, soil acidification deteriorates soil health by disrupting the soil’s pH levels.

It’s also important to consider the impact of these pollutants on the entire ecosystem. Bugs and insects aren’t just annoying pests we find in our homes, but key contributors to soil health and vital to the environment. When these organisms consume toxins in the soil, pollutants can continue to travel and infect the food chain.

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education explains that nitrogen fertilizers (AKA synthetic fertilizers) contribute negatively to pest damage, while organic soil fertilization practices reduce the damage caused to pests.¹¹

Monocropping

Another factor that contributes to soil pollution is monocropping. This is a farming technique that utilizes the same land and soil to cultivate a specific crop repeatedly. This farming practice helps turn over a single crop faster, increases yield, and is cheaper overall. However, the easy way is not always the best way.  

Growing one crop on the same soil depletes the nutrients tremendously. In fact, it can result in “soil erosion, poor soil fertility, and [a] decline in crop productivity.”¹² While monocropping appears to be an effective solution for maximizing profit, it has serious long-term effects that should be considered.

Looking Forward with Regenerative Farming

The answer to restoring our soil health may lie in regenerative farming, an agricultural approach that focuses on rebuilding soil health through sustainable, nature-friendly practices. By improving the soil, regenerative farming not only produces healthier crops but also supports long-term environmental balance.

With today’s technology, there are now many regenerative farming systems and organizations supporting this mission. One notable organization is Kiss the Ground, a nonprofit that promotes soil health and regeneration as a viable solution for our wellness, water sustainability, and climate. They have outlined the following best practices for regenerative farming:

• No-till farming is when you let the soil be and avoid turning it over as much as possible. This helps to keep organic matter in the soil from being disturbed, letting nature take its course.
• Compost farming is likely a term you’ve heard before. Many communities even offer complimentary compost bins where you can toss leftover food scraps. Farmers can use this compost to enrich the soil, providing crops with natural nutrients that help them flourish.
• Crop rotation involves rotating where crops are planted to keep the soil healthy and reduces the risk of pests and diseases, since they don’t have a consistent host to rely on.
• Livestock grazing naturally supports regenerative farming. As animals graze, they eat selected plants, trample the ground to help mix soil and nutrients, and leave behind manure that acts as a natural fertilizer. This process enriches the soil ecosystem, improves fertility, and promotes healthier crops.
• Other good farming practices, like reducing pesticides, can also help maintain soil health.

So, before you turn a blind eye to the dirt beneath your feet, consider how it impacts both our health and the overall ecosystem. Every small effort counts. Together, we can help our planet build a thriving, long-term ecosystem. Otherwise, we may damage Earth’s health so severely that our only recourse is to live adrift in space, disconnected from the soil that once nourished us.

References

1. NSW Government. (2017). Plant Nutrients in the Soil. Www.dpi.nsw.gov.au; NSW Government. https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/soils/soil-testing-and-analysis/plant-nutrients
2. (2014, May). Soil Health – Nitrogen. Natural Resources Conservation Service; U.S. Department of Agriculture. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-10/Soil%20Nitrogen.pdf
3. Flis, S. (2019). Calcium: Improved plant health and nutrition through 4R management. Crops & Soils, 52(4), 28–30. https://doi.org/10.2134/cs2019.52.0401
4. Rawat, J., Sanwal, P., & Saxena, J. (2016). Potassium and Its Role in Sustainable Agriculture. Potassium Solubilizing Microorganisms for Sustainable Agriculture, 235–253. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2776-2_17
5. Ahmed, N., Zhang, B., Bilquees Bozdar, Sadaruddin Chachar, Rai, M., Li, J., Li, Y., Hayat, F., Zaid Chachar, & Tu, P. (2023). The power of magnesium: unlocking the potential for increased yield, quality, and stress tolerance of horticultural crops. Frontiers in Plant Science, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1285512
6. (2014, May). Soil Health – Phosphorus. Natural Resources Conservation Service; U.S. Department of Agriculture. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-10/Soil%20Phosphorus.pdf
7. Narayan, O. P., Kumar, P., Yadav, B., Dua, M., & Johri, A. K. (2022). Sulfur nutrition and its role in plant growth and development. Plant Signaling & Behavior, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/15592324.2022.2030082
8. Gu, B., Chen, D., Yang, Y., Vitousek, P., & Zhu, Y.-G. (2021). Soil-Food-Environment-Health Nexus for Sustainable Development. Research, 2021, 1–4. https://doi.org/10.34133/2021/9804807
9. Adesina, G. O., & Adelasoye, K. A. (2014). Effect of crude oil pollution on heavy metal contents, microbial population in soil, and maize and cowpea growth. Agricultural Sciences, 05(01), 43–50. https://doi.org/10.4236/as.2014.51004
10. Roba, T. B. (2018). Review on: The Effect of Mixing Organic and Inorganic Fertilizer on Productivity and Soil Fertility. OALib, 05(06), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1104618
11. Impacts of Fertilizers on Insect Pests. (n.d.). SARE. https://www.sare.org/publications/manage-insects-on-your-farm/managing-soils-to-minimize-crop-pests/impacts-of-fertilizers-on-insect-pests/
12. Belete, T., & Yadete, E. (2023). Effect of mono cropping on soil health and fertility management for sustainable agriculture practices: A review. Journal of Plant Sciences, 11(6). https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jps.20231106.13