Soil

Category

Soil is much more than dirt…

Soils underpin our ecosystems, our climate and human culture. Some of the biggest issues affecting our world and its inhabitants have soil at their heart. Healthy soil supports biodiversity: biodiverse soils can host millions of organisms in each teaspoon. Sustaining life in soil is essential to ensure soil health, which supports our ability to grow food and farm effectively. When managed well, soil can store significant amounts of rainfall, preventing flooding and dirty run-off which can affect the health and...

Soil where food begins

  World Soil Day- December 5th. Soil is the heart and soul of our planet. We can’t live without it. It sustains us, captures carbon, provides a home for billions of organisms and can help defend us against flooding and drought, but too often we’re taught to think of it as dirt! As a result, many of the world’s soils are now in crisis – degraded and eroding, often as a result of intensive farming practices. The good news is that...

Soils – new plan for healthy green countryside

  Soil is one of the world’s most precious resources, but is often overlooked. The soil does many important tasks. It provides food and energy, keeps water clean, acts as a place to store carbon in the fight against climate change, and maintains biodiversity. But some modern farming and countryside management practices have been degrading our soil, causing erosion and causing other issues in the surrounding landscape. Now soil is at the centre of a recently announced UK government policy...

Over salty soils a threat to ecosystems

World Soil Day (WSD) is held annually on 5 December as a means to focus attention on the importance of healthy soil and to advocate for the sustainable management of soil resources. An international day to celebrate soil was recommended by the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) in 2002.   From FAO : “Have you ever seen white crusts on soil? Yes, it is what you think. Soils can be salty. Salts are present naturally in soils and water,...