What is the Soil Food Web? | Soil Food Web School

Summary

The Soil Food Web is a vital underground ecosystem consisting of microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, and nematodes that break down organic matter, providing essential nutrients to plants. A balanced Soil Food Web reduces the need for chemicals like fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, offering farmers increased yields and lower costs. Disrupted by modern farming practices, restoring this natural system can reverse soil degradation, prevent erosion, combat climate change by sequestering carbon, and protect biodiversity. With its powerful benefits, the Soil Food Web offers a sustainable solution to global environmental challenges.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Soil Food Web is a complex system of microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and nematodes) that breaks down organic matter and makes nutrients available to plants.
• 😀 Healthy Soil Food Webs lead to nutrient-rich, productive ecosystems without the need for fertilizers or pesticides, as nature provides pest protection and nutrient cycling.
• 😀 Human activities, especially plowing and the use of chemicals, have disrupted the Soil Food Web, causing nutrient imbalances and increased vulnerability to pests and diseases.
• 😀 Restoring the Soil Food Web can result in significantly higher crop yields and reduced dependency on chemical inputs like fertilizers and pesticides.
• 😀 Modern agricultural practices with heavy machinery (like tractors) cause more damage to the soil biome compared to older, less intensive practices (like oxen-driven plowing).
• 😀 A balanced Soil Food Web helps prevent soil erosion by maintaining soil structure, which protects against wind and water erosion.
• 😀 The Soil Food Web plays a critical role in the global decline of biodiversity, particularly insect populations, which have dropped by 25% each decade over the past 30 years.
• 😀 Healthy soils can act as a carbon sink, helping to mitigate climate change by sequestering large amounts of carbon within microorganisms and certain fungi.
• 😀 Nature's operating system within the Soil Food Web protects plants from diseases and pests, making chemical pesticides and herbicides unnecessary in healthy systems.
• 😀 Farmers who restore the Soil Food Web can achieve up to a 200% increase in yields, as soil microorganisms help provide a constant flow of nutrients from organic matter and soil particles.
• 😀 The Soil Food Web helps to balance ecosystems and prevent the collapse of the natural environment, which is vital for sustaining life on Earth and addressing existential threats like soil depletion and ecosystem collapse.

Q & A

What is the Soil Food Web?

The Soil Food Web refers to the living part of the soil, made up of microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and nematodes, as well as larger organisms like insects and earthworms. It breaks down organic matter and releases nutrients in a form available for plants.

How does the Soil Food Web function?

The Soil Food Web functions like a biome, similar to the human gut biome. It breaks down organic matter, releasing nutrients that plants can absorb. The various organisms in the web interact with each other to create a balanced ecosystem.

Who pioneered the research into the Soil Food Web?

Dr. Elaine Ingham pioneered research into soil microorganisms over the last four decades. She worked with a team of research scientists to understand how these microorganisms interact with each other and plants.

Why is the Soil Food Web important for plants?

The Soil Food Web is essential for plant growth as it helps release nutrients, protect plants from pests and diseases, and supports the soil structure. Healthy soil can nourish plants without the need for artificial fertilizers or pesticides.

What causes the imbalance in the Soil Food Web?

Human activities such as plowing, which destroys larger microorganisms like fungi and protozoa, lead to an imbalance in the Soil Food Web. Modern machinery and the use of chemicals like pesticides and fertilizers further disturb this balance.

How does plowing affect the Soil Food Web?

Plowing destroys important soil organisms, particularly fungi and protozoa, which disrupts the Soil Food Web. This leads to nutrient imbalances and reduces the soil's ability to protect plants from diseases and pests.

What benefits are there to restoring the Soil Food Web?

Restoring the Soil Food Web offers several benefits, including improved plant health, increased crop yields, reduced need for fertilizers and pesticides, and cost savings for farmers. Environmentally, it helps reduce soil erosion and improves ecosystem health.

How can restoring the Soil Food Web impact crop yields?

Restoring the Soil Food Web can significantly increase crop yields, sometimes by over 200%. Healthy soil organisms provide plants with a constant flow of nutrients from organic matter and soil particles, optimizing plant growth.

What role does the Soil Food Web play in preventing soil erosion?

The Soil Food Web helps prevent soil erosion by improving soil structure. Organisms within the web create aggregates that bind soil particles together, protecting against erosion from both wind and water.

What are some environmental threats that can be mitigated by the Soil Food Web?

The Soil Food Web can help address several environmental threats, including soil erosion, the decline of insect populations, and climate change. A healthy Soil Food Web promotes biodiversity, helps sequester carbon, and protects ecosystems.