Healthy soil is alive with microbes, fungi, and organic matter that work together to cycle nutrients, retain water, and support resilient crops. Regenerative ag practices such as no-till, cover crops, and crop rotations restore this living soil biome, reducing erosion, improving fertility, and lessening dependence on synthetic inputs.

Organic matter accounts for just 5 percent of most agricultural soils. But it’s the difference between dead dirt and living, thriving soil with microorganisms, earthworms, and soil structure that allows for water and nutrient retention.

Composed of plant and animal residues, organic matter serves as the sustenance for a myriad of soil microbes that cycle nutrients to plants and bolster the resilience of crops against various stresses. The lifecycles of fungi, bacteria, and a host of other soil dwellers are intertwined. Their preferred habitat is a relatively undisturbed area with an abundance of organic matter. In other words, crop residues on the soil surface and plant roots in the soil. Cover crops keep the microbial community fed between cash crops while decreasing erosion.

Benefits of Soil Microbes for Soil Health

As the evidence mounts for the need to reduce the long-term use of synthetic fertilizers and the rise of sustainable farming practices, the push toward understanding the impact of soil biology on robust soil ecosystems has never been greater.
Rich, fertile soil forms the bedrock of prosperous farming. It is a precious resource that demands careful stewardship to maintain its vitality. Most soil organisms are in the top 6 inches of soil. Those microorganisms orchestrate nutrient cycling, transforming organic matter into life-fostering compounds. Crops are dependent on the enzymes released by microbial activity to achieve optimum growth.

Some modern agriculture practices have harmed this relationship with the addition of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Nutrient cycles are less efficient, and erosion removes over 5 tons/acre of topsoil yearly, taking with it the nutrients applied. NRCS data shows erosion rates have decreased over time, but they also show that when crop prices are high, there is more erosion. In other words, farmers are trading short-term cash crop gain for long-term soil fertility loss.

Let’s face it: this is not an efficient or profitable way to farm.

The loss of topsoil, with all its beneficial microorganisms and nutrients, leaves many farmers with no option but to add more synthetics. However, you can reverse erosion while maintaining high yields.

Using sustainable farming methods significantly enhances the soil’s structure and porosity. This is good news for clay to sandy soil, and everything in between. Nutrients are cycled more efficiently with the aid of soil microbes that are minimally disturbed.

Farming practices that nourish the soil biome reduce dependence on synthetic fertilizers and steer agriculture toward a more sustainable horizon. The use of cover crops, crop rotations, and no-till practices all increase beneficial soil microbial communities. These farming systems are becoming more common throughout the United States.

Enhancing Soil Structure with No-Till Ag

Soil-dwelling organisms breathe life into the soil’s framework. However, most beneficial microorganisms, especially mycorrhizal fungi, won’t survive modern tillage or synthetics. Cultivated land is predominantly bacterial because of past farming practices. But dig a shovel of soil from the surrounding hedgerows or woods and you’ll find an abundance of earthworms, mycelium from fungi, and a soil structure that is crumbly and rich. The organic material in the undisturbed soil is a hospitable environment, enabling microorganisms, fungi, and bacteria to thrive and effectively break down organic compounds into the soil.

That friable soil structure and the large beneficial microbial community help to efficiently cycle nutrients. The nutrients remain in the root zone because microorganisms also use the same nutrients as plants, releasing nutrients as they die or are eaten by larger microorganisms.

As the biological processes intensify, the soil’s structure is transformed, becoming more friable and creating spaces for air and water to circulate. Such enhancements ensure that roots expand with less resistance, allowing plants to access a bounty of nutrients and water.

Your fields, unlike the nearby woods, don’t have such a hospitable environment for efficient microbial processes. That means the soil structure is prone to compaction, leaching, or salinization. A study of Iowa soils and corn yield showed a clear relationship between lower corn yield and decreased depth of topsoil. The drop in yield was much greater for tilled than no-till fields.

So, if you use no-till practices and maintain a large microbial population, you’ll have less leaching of nutrients.

Bolstering Water Retention in Sandy Soils Naturally

One aspect of soil fertility is porosity. We tend to think of this as an attribute of soil type. But sandy soil can become sandy loam over time. And clay can become clay loam over time. Let’s take a closer look at how to bolster water retention in sandy soils naturally.

Sandy soils are notorious for their rapid drainage and low water-holding capacity. This poses a considerable challenge in the farmer’s quest for lush crops. The use of sustainable farming practices allows strong beneficial biological communities to create a natural alchemy, weaving together soil mineral particles and creating tiny reservoirs that capture moisture that would otherwise disappear into the depths.

This subtle transformation, catalyzed by the integration of organic matter, not only preserves precious water but also serves as a wellspring for microorganisms. As tiny architects, these organisms amend the soil matrix, further enhancing its ability to cradle life-giving droplets amidst arid conditions.

Regenerative ag practices such as no-till, cover crops, and crop rotation can help you build a healthy soil biome that cycles nutrients efficiently while improving resilience to droughts. The mentors at ST Biologicals can help you implement these and other regenerative ag strategies at your operations. Get in touch with us today. We’re here to help you succeed. When soil speaks, we listen.

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