Soil is created through life processes working upon minuet sediments, mixing those sediments with organic matter and sticking them together with biological slimes to create soil aggregates that improve air and water circulation and allow nutrients to be stored. If the soil habitat is sheltered by plants, and receives a regular source of organic matter to be broken down by decomposers, it provides a habitat in which life can flourish.
The healthy soil ecosystem has a diverse range of life from decomposers that break down organic matter and supply these nutrients to the soil in their faeces, bacteria that have a diverse range of roles recycling soil nutrients and fungi that create a complex network in the soil. It is our role as regenerative farming engineers to create diverse and abundant habitats which will provide the full range of resources to support fulfilling lives while nurturing our habitat and soil for future generations.
Soil is essential for life on land. Soil is composed of minerals (sand, clay and silt), air, organic matter. An ideal agricultural loam soil has approximately 45% minerals, 25% water, 25% air and 5% organic matter. Soil minerals build up due to the erosion of rocks and form a substrate into which plant roots can anchor themselves and which also provides a home for soil life.
The necessary treatment for soils varies by the conditions, but the general goal is to have good structure and permeability, which is more or less achieved with high organic content. Organic content also helps to balance the pH levels in soils and helps regulate water and salinity. Thus, we have to concentrate on maintaining our topsoil and designing agricultural systems that will provide a continuous source of organic matter to build soils and maintain their fertility.
Within permaculture farms we aim to create systems that improve the quality and quantity of soil over time. This may result in less short term yield when compared to conventional agriculture systems (due to the requirement to feed the soil adequately and not over-strip it of resources), but in the long term the production of crops is far higher due to the sustainable nature of production that can be sustained indefinitely.
Water and air are important components of soil for plants and other organisms that live in the soil. Water in the soil is absorbed by plant roots and creates a humid environment which is important for many soil organisms to survive in. Soil organisms and plant roots also require oxygen from the air in soil to respire and create energy for cellular processes.
Organic matter in the soil (or hummus) builds up from the decomposition of dead plants and animals. Before being decomposed, this provides a food source to support a diverse ecosystem of life within the soil. When organic matter is decomposed it helps absorb water, create extra air space and balance atmospheric carbon. A growing appreciation is emerging that building soil carbon (by increasing organic matter in soil) may be the best solution to combat rising atmospheric carbon associated with global warming. With the added benefit of improving soil properties to support agricultural production.
The healthy soil ecosystem has a diverse range of life from decomposers that break down organic matter and supply these nutrients to the soil in their faeces, bacteria that have a diverse range of roles recycling soil nutrients and fungi that create a complex network in the soil. It is our role as regenerative farming engineers to create diverse and abundant habitats which will provide the full range of resources to support fulfilling lives while nurturing our habitat and soil for future generations.
Soil is essential for life on land. Soil is composed of minerals (sand, clay and silt), air, organic matter. An ideal agricultural loam soil has approximately 45% minerals, 25% water, 25% air and 5% organic matter. Soil minerals build up due to the erosion of rocks and form a substrate into which plant roots can anchor themselves and which also provides a home for soil life.
The necessary treatment for soils varies by the conditions, but the general goal is to have good structure and permeability, which is more or less achieved with high organic content. Organic content also helps to balance the pH levels in soils and helps regulate water and salinity. Thus, we have to concentrate on maintaining our topsoil and designing agricultural systems that will provide a continuous source of organic matter to build soils and maintain their fertility.
Within permaculture farms we aim to create systems that improve the quality and quantity of soil over time. This may result in less short term yield when compared to conventional agriculture systems (due to the requirement to feed the soil adequately and not over-strip it of resources), but in the long term the production of crops is far higher due to the sustainable nature of production that can be sustained indefinitely.
Water and air are important components of soil for plants and other organisms that live in the soil. Water in the soil is absorbed by plant roots and creates a humid environment which is important for many soil organisms to survive in. Soil organisms and plant roots also require oxygen from the air in soil to respire and create energy for cellular processes.
Organic matter in the soil (or hummus) builds up from the decomposition of dead plants and animals. Before being decomposed, this provides a food source to support a diverse ecosystem of life within the soil. When organic matter is decomposed it helps absorb water, create extra air space and balance atmospheric carbon. A growing appreciation is emerging that building soil carbon (by increasing organic matter in soil) may be the best solution to combat rising atmospheric carbon associated with global warming. With the added benefit of improving soil properties to support agricultural production.
Many soil management practises (e.g. tillage and fertilisation) influence the soil’s ability or capacity to function. Consequently, we need to be careful as to the manner in which we use the soil resource.
Some of the key requirements for plant growth are provided by the soil. In very general terms, these might be listed as:
If any of the above facets of its environment are unfavourable, the plant root system may be adversely affected.
Some of the key requirements for plant growth are provided by the soil. In very general terms, these might be listed as:
- Support: roots must be able to grow through the soil, and the soil must be rigid enough to anchor the plant so that it is not uprooted in strong winds.
- Oxygen: roots and soil organisms respire, so they require oxygen. Also, carbon dioxide and other toxic gases must be able to escape from the soil profile into the atmosphere.
- Water: the soil supplies the plant’s water requirement.
- Nutrients: the plant takes-up nutrients from the soil solution.
- Soil temperature will also affect plant growth.
If any of the above facets of its environment are unfavourable, the plant root system may be adversely affected.
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Techniques for Building Soil
There are a wide variety of ways for creating compost to enrich your home garden or orchard. Please follow the links below for a guide to some common strategies.
- Hot compost
- Cold compost (same as above)
- Worm bins
- Blackfly bin
- Bokashi bin
Compost Teas
Another important set of techniques needed for successful regenerative agriculture is the production of farm-made BioFertilizers, in order to avoid the economically and environmentally disastrous effects of energy-intensive and expensive artificial fertilizers. Among the techniques used are the composting of on-farm organic waste in combination with beneficial microorganisms, fungal mycelia and rock dust for re-mineralization.
On land, all life springs from soil. Soil is ecological currency. If we overspend it or deplete it, the environment goes bankrupt. In either preventing or rebuilding after environmental catastrophe, mycologists can become environmental artists by designing landscapes for both human and natural benefit.
On land, all life springs from soil. Soil is ecological currency. If we overspend it or deplete it, the environment goes bankrupt. In either preventing or rebuilding after environmental catastrophe, mycologists can become environmental artists by designing landscapes for both human and natural benefit.
Biochar
Biochar inoculated with liquid organic compost can be fed into the thin grooves for active carbon burial and soil building.
Maintaining a healthy bacterial and fungal flora and fauna in the soil increases the soil’s carbon content. The win-win-win solutions of restoring the world’s top-soils, actively sequestering atmospheric carbon and creating a more resilient and productive local agricultural system are practically begging us to engage local farmers everywhere in this process.
Increasing the organic carbon content of our top-soil also has the important role of increasing the soil’s water retention capacity and the crops grown on them are therefore more resilient to unstable weather patterns and droughts.
Maintaining a healthy bacterial and fungal flora and fauna in the soil increases the soil’s carbon content. The win-win-win solutions of restoring the world’s top-soils, actively sequestering atmospheric carbon and creating a more resilient and productive local agricultural system are practically begging us to engage local farmers everywhere in this process.
Increasing the organic carbon content of our top-soil also has the important role of increasing the soil’s water retention capacity and the crops grown on them are therefore more resilient to unstable weather patterns and droughts.