1 of 20

Healthy Soil Biology

2023, February 19

by: Ariel Chamberlain

2 of 20

Introduction

3 of 20

Topic: Where

(Dai, Y., et. al., 2019).

4 of 20

Topic: How

Rock and mineral fragments
Water
Air
Biodiversity (especially plants, bacteria, nematodes, fungi, etc.)
Time
Weather (wind, rain, freeze/thaw)
Decomposing organic matter

(Idaho PBS, ret.: 2023; SSSA, ret.: 2023a; University of Minnesota, ret.: 2023).

(Idaho PBS, ret.: 2023).

5 of 20

Topic: Who

plant roots

bacteria

fungi

nematodes

worms

insects & grubs

small mammals

(SymSoil, ret.: 2023).

6 of 20

Biological Concepts: �Level of Organization

(FAO, 2015).

Ecosystem

7 of 20

Biological Concepts: Analysis��I. Carbon

(UC Berkeley, ret.: 2023).

8 of 20

Biological Concepts: Analysis� II. Water

High heat capacity supports homeostasis (Clark, et. al., 2018).

Cohesive & adhesive properties enable capillary action. (Clark, et. al., 2018).

Polarity & solvent capacity enables selective nutrient transport between cells (e.g., osmosis.) (Clark, et. al., 2018).

9 of 20

Biological Concepts: Analysis� III. Prokaryotes

Early evolutionary cell structure

Prolific & varied

Some enable biological processes and ecosystem functions

Some can infect and kill

Biodiversity helps maintain microbial balance

10 of 20

Biological Concepts: �Relationship to Topic

Carbon cycle storage
Energy & cellular respiration
Soil structure

I. Carbon

Storage and gradual evaporation
Climate/temperature regulation
Filtration

II. Water

Biodiversity
Nitrogen fixing
Pollution remediation

III. Prokaryotes

Nitrogen fixing Rhizobium bacteria nodules on soybean roots. (University of Minnesota, ret.: 2023).

Soil is an important part of the carbon cycle that helps to store and recycle carbon. (Idaho PBS, ret.: 2023). Plants draw in carbon from the atmosphere during photosynthesis, and their roots provide both support and organic source materials in soil. (University of Minnesota, ret.: 2023). A wide array of fungi, bacteria, and other underground organisms consume those organic materials and use them to generate energy during cellular respiration. (Clark, et. al., 2018; University of Minnesota, ret.: 2023). Carbon also contributes to the overall structure of soil.
Soil regulates the water cycle by storing it during wet conditions and gradually releasing it through the process of evaporation. (Clark, et. al., 2018; Idaho PBS, ret.: 2023) This water content also helps with the climate and temperature regulation provided by soils. (Clark, et. al., 2018; Idaho PBS, ret.: 2023) The typically negative charge of soil particles, electromagnetically attracts pollutants, which tend to be positively charged, and filters and purifies groundwater in the process. (Idaho PBS, ret.: 2023)
Healthy soil is host to more biodiversity than above ground, much of which is due to the prokaryotes that live there. (University of Minnesota, ret.: 2023). Some can help with nitrogen fixation for plants, pollutant remediation, and other important biological processes that help to build the foundation of the global food web. (Clark, et. al., 2018).

11 of 20

Biological Concepts: � Characteristics of Life

Carbon

Organic chemistry
Four bonds (tetrahedron)
Cell & soil structure
Energy storage (sugar)
DNA (nucleotides)

12 of 20

Biological Concepts:� Impact on Health

Prokaryotes are biologically diverse

Helpful (symbiotic support, ecosystem functions)
Harmful (infection, disease, biodiversity loss, etc.)

13 of 20

Future Directions: Methods

Indigenous Wisdom

Listen to regional indigenous wisdom on how to work with nature instead of against it.

Research & Implement Solutions

Develop sustainable soil practices, especially in agriculture, construction, and industry.

Regulate Industry

Draft and pass legislation that protects soil and enforces those environmentally sustainable practices.

Educate

Include education on the value of soil, its conservation, and its role in climate change in the standard curriculum early and often.

14 of 20

Future Directions: Education

In an increasingly digital society, soil education helps to reconnect people to the full value of protecting arable land, which can inspire them to design and/or advocate for sustainable solutions.

15 of 20

Future Directions: Solutions

There are 4 main conservation principles to preserving arable soil and maximizing soil health:

Adding organic matter regularly
Increasing biodiversity of crops
Maximizing soil cover
Avoiding disruption of the soil (tilling)

(University of Minnesota , ret.: 2023; USDA, ret.: 2023)

16 of 20

Conclusion: Ethical Perspectives

Global food security

Short-term financial goals vs long-term sustainability

Foreign land acquisition & national security

Environmental justice

17 of 20

Conclusion: Positive-Negative Balance

When considering the future of humanity, the benefits of soil conservation far outweigh the short-term benefits of ignoring and continuing to deteriorate this precious ecosystem.

18 of 20

Conclusion: Personal Impact

Know your local farmer and how your food is grown.

CSA (community supported agriculture), farmers markets, local first

Keep updated on local, regional, and national legislation that pertains to soil health.
Advocate for regenerative and sustainable agricultural methods.

no till, permaculture, composting, biodiversity

Have your soil tested.

Typically, available through local agricultural extension offices.

Use soil protecting plant and pest management methods on your own land.

19 of 20

References:

Brevik, E. C., Hannam, J., Krzic, M., Muggler, C., Uchida, Y. (2022, June). The importance of soil education to connectivity as a dimension of soil security. Soil Security, 7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soisec.2022.100066

Clark, M. A., Douglas, M., & Choi, J. (2018). Biology 2e. OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/biology-2e/pages/1-introduction

Dai, Y., Shangguan, W., Wei, N. Xin, Q., Yuan, H., Zhang, S., Liu, S., Lu, X., Wang, D. and Yan, F. (2019, July 5). A review of the global soil property maps for Earth system models. SOIL, 5(2), p.p. 137–158 https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-5-137-2019

FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the Unites Nations). (2015). Information material for the international year of soils 2015: Soils deliver ecosystem services that enable life on Earth. https://www.fao.org/publications/card/en/c/0815e457-c6a4-47e9-ab6c-f23224279834/

Idaho PBS. (retrieved: 2023, January 22). Soil facts. https://sciencetrek.org/sciencetrek/topics/soil/facts.cfm

Milman, O. (2015, December 02). Earth has lost a third of arable land in past 40 years, scientists say. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/02/arable-land-soil-food-security-shortage

Soil Science Society of America, SSSA. (retrieved: 2023a, January 22). Soil basics. https://www.soils.org/about-soils/basics/

Soil Science Society of America, SSSA. (retrieved: 2023b, January 31). Soil and the environment. https://www.soils4teachers.org/soil-and-environment/

SymSoil. (retrieved: 2023, February, 15). Soil food web: SymSoil’s perspective. https://symsoil.com/soil-food-web-symsoil/

20 of 20

References (cont.):

Text - S.4821 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): SOIL Act of 2022. (2022, September 12). https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/4821/text

Thunberg, G. (2022). The climate book. Allen Lane.

UC Berkeley. (retrieved: 2023, February 15). Carbon cycle. https://ugc.berkeley.edu/background-content/carbon-cycle/

University of Minnesota. (retrieved: 2023, January 22). Soil biology. https://extension.umn.edu/soil-management-and-health/soil-biology

USDA. (retrieved: 2023, February 7). Natural Resources Conservation Service: Soil health. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-basics/natural-resource-concerns/soils/soil-health