Healthy Soils
Background
Soil Structure
• Soil is a living and breathing medium which is
fundamental to the majority of food production.
• Structure is determined by soil type, soil depth,
organic matter content and natural vegetation.
• Soil has physical, chemical and biological
components which determine its type, structure,
fertility and usefulness.
• An open structure provides an easily workable
soil that is well-drained and has the potential for
good crop yields.
• Soil provides valuable ecosystem services – food
production, biodiversity, water and flood
management, carbon sequestration and storage.
• Heavy agricultural machinery compacts soil
leading to damage and poor crop growth.
• Soil is easily degraded by agricultural activities.
• Soil should not be treated like dirt.
• Inappropriate livestock management in wet
conditions leads to poached soils.
• Maintaining a good soil structure is essential for
healthy soils.
“The history of every nation is
eventually written in the way in
which it cares for its soil”
Franklin D Roosevelt, 1936
Summary
• Soil is a mostly irreplaceable and fragile medium.
Soil Erosion
• Healthy and fertile soils underpin all terrestrial
food production.
• Soil takes thousands of years to develop but can
be destroyed in a fraction of that time.
• Soil health has been in decline since the
industrial revolution but has accelerated
dramatically in the last few years.
• Erosion by water and wind is a major issue in
many parts of the world and renders land
incapable of supporting food production. The
eroded soil is deposited in rivers and seas.
• Humans learnt to exploit soil to provide food but
now have to learn to limit that exploitation to
enhance soil health and provide food into the
future.
Warwick Crop Centre
Rob Lillywhite
www.warwick.ac.uk/go/wcc