10 ways to conserve soil

Organic Activity

A mass of mineral particles alone do not constitute a true soil. True soils are influenced, modified, and supplemented by living organisms. Plants and animals aid in the development of a soil through the addition of organic matter. Fungi and bacteria decompose this organic matter into a semi-soluble chemical substance known as humus. Larger soil organisms, like earthworms, beetles, and termites, vertically redistribute this humus within the mineral matter found beneath the surface of a soil.

Humus is the biochemical substance that makes the upper layers of the soil become dark. It is colored dark brown to black. Humus is difficult to see in isolation because it binds with larger mineral and organic particles. Humus provides soil with a number of very important benefits:

* It enhances a soil's ability to hold and store moisture.
* It reduces the eluviation of soluble nutrients from the soil profile.
* It is the primary source of carbon and nitrogen required by plants for their nutrition.
* It improves soil structure which is necessary for plant growth.