Excerpt
An analysis of the soils of the great plains will reveal their incredible wealth of native fertility, tilth, and rich dark color. Even after 100 years of cultivation, these soils retain much of their attractive appearance. On closer observation, however, conventionally managed soils reveal their massive structure, few roots, and little life compared to their virgin counterparts. What has caused this change? Is it simply because of the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, or is there a greater overall problem with the way that we have approached agriculture?
It appears that the demand for synthetic fertilizers and pesticides may be a symptom of the poor diet that the soils have been given over the last 100 years, a diet that has only worsened with the advent of synthetic fertilizers.
Soil can be viewed as a complex respiring organism with sand and silt as the skeleton; water and its dissolved solutes are the blood, clay and organic matter the skin and connective tissues, and microorganisms are the respiratory and digestive systems. This soil organism requires a specific diet in order to maintain its health parallel …
Footnotes
T.H. DeLuca is an assistant professor of soil science, School of Forestry, University of Montana, Missoula 59812.
- Copyright 1995 by the Soil and Water Conservation Society
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