Micro-ogranisms, humus, and tilth
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Healthy soil is not any one thing. The organisms at work in your soil that feed and nurture your plants have their own requirements. The first is organic material.
Organic material, or humus, can come in many forms. Lawn clippings, leaves, manure, and compost are all excellent sources. As these materials break down, they release nutrients that encourage an ecosystem of bacteria and organisms. These living things feed on these nutrients and excrete material your plants and trees consume. This symbiotic relationship cannot be achieved through seasonal fertilization. It requires attention, but as the quality of the soil improves, the system becomes more and more self-sustaining.
As micro-organisms consume and break down humus, they change the density and nutrients available in the soil. A nutrient rich soil that is porous is said to be, "in good tilth". Soil in good tilth has a a characteristic dark brown or black color, a loamy density, and is considered friable, meaning it has a healthy mix of sand, clay, and organic matter. Healthy soil is resistant to compaction, provides excellent drainage, and is nutrient rich.
Organic material, or humus, can come in many forms. Lawn clippings, leaves, manure, and compost are all excellent sources. As these materials break down, they release nutrients that encourage an ecosystem of bacteria and organisms. These living things feed on these nutrients and excrete material your plants and trees consume. This symbiotic relationship cannot be achieved through seasonal fertilization. It requires attention, but as the quality of the soil improves, the system becomes more and more self-sustaining.
As micro-organisms consume and break down humus, they change the density and nutrients available in the soil. A nutrient rich soil that is porous is said to be, "in good tilth". Soil in good tilth has a a characteristic dark brown or black color, a loamy density, and is considered friable, meaning it has a healthy mix of sand, clay, and organic matter. Healthy soil is resistant to compaction, provides excellent drainage, and is nutrient rich.