Importance of Soil
What is the importance of soil and why do we need it?
Soil is the top layer of the earth’s surface. It is made up of a whole bunch of stuff that has broken up over time such as dead plants, bugs, leaves, trees, rocks, etc. If you have a compose pile, you understand that all the old food scraps, eggshells, and other stuff that you put into it breaks of over time and turns into soil.
If there was no soil, there would be nothing else. How’s that? Simple, you need soil in order for plants to grow. You need plants to feed people and animals. Animals and people eat animals. It’s all part of the circle of life and soil is an important part of it.
What does soil do?
Soil is the base where you plant seeds. If you just watered the seeds without soil, they would sprout, but eventually they would die out. Plants need soil for their roots to grow around and hold on to. They also use the soil to get the food and water that they need. Plants soak up water and nutrients through their roots and not their leaves.
The importance of soil is that it also helps to drain the water. You can over-water plants. If they are sitting in water, they will drown and die. The soil gives them the proper amount of water, draining the rest.
Soil also holds the plants up. Can you imagine what would happen to all the trees if they just sat on the ground, roots and all? They would fall over, assuming they even grew at all in the first place.
When plants die, their roots, stems, and leaves break down and enrich the soil. When their roots break down and enter the soil, they leave channels to help with water irrigation. Soil is very efficient. This is why plants don’t die even if we aren’t taking care of them. Think of all the forests and jungles out there that continue to thrive. Nobody is taking care of them, they just live on their own efficient cycle.
How can I take better care of my plants through the soil?
When you first start your garden, make sure that you cultivate the soil. Break it up and remove all or as many rocks and you can. If your soil doesn’t have a lot of nutrients, add your own. You can use any kind of fertilizer or use your own compost. A compost is a great way to recycle and have exceptional soil.
Make sure that your soil is well aerated. It needs water and nutrients just as much as air. Once you’ve planted your seeds and plants, continue to take care of your plants and soil by weeding your garden and cultivating it every season. When you do this your plants will thrive and your produce will abound.