Soil Health
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Soil Health is the continued capacity of the soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans. The ground beneath us is alive and it provides the basic functions that produce food and fiber production. Vital soil functions include nutrient cycling, water infiltration and availability, filtering and buffering, physical stability and support, and habitat for biodiversity. These functions are a result of the soil food web. Photosynthesis drives the soil food web, which is why above ground land management actions directly impact soil health and its ability function. In a bare-ground environment, the soil is in "starvation mode" with no live root to pump carbon (sugars carbohydrates-plant exudates) into the soil system. No food means little microbial activity and low production of organic matter. Low organic matter reduces the amount of available water for the planned crop and no cover leads to higher evaporation rates. Bare-ground also increases soil temperature, making the soil less hospitable to beneficial soil organisms.
Principles of Soil Health
Soil Health Workshop Presentions - Marlon Winger, NRCS Soil Health Specialist
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What are Mycorrhizae, Nematodes, and Protozoa?
Click here to learn more about the living organisms in your soil! 
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Web Soil Survey
Web Soil Survey provides a simple yet powerful way to analyze soil data in four basic steps.
To research soil types in your area, open the following link: http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov.
Click the "Start WSS" button to begin.
Web Soil Survey provides a simple yet powerful way to analyze soil data in four basic steps.
To research soil types in your area, open the following link: http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov.
Click the "Start WSS" button to begin.