How to make soil healthier?

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE defines soil health as: as the continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans.

Introduction

The intrinsic link between soil health and the quality of the food we consume is the cornerstone of sustainable agriculture. At the heart of the entire process from seed to fork lies the health of our soil. Consider a scenario where there is a simple desire: we long for nutritious, wholesome food on the table. Farmers are eager to cultivate robust, disease-resistant plants and achieve a bumper harvest. However, this shared vision depends on a single foundation: the health of the soil beneath arable land. Soil is often dismissed as dirt, but it becomes the silent architect of our survival.

Understanding Soil Health

To truly appreciate the importance of soil health, its multifaceted nature must be studied in depth. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE defines soil health as: as the continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans. Consider that the chemical composition of soil determines the nutrients available to plants, affecting the nutritional quality of our food. In addition to the structure of the soil, it is the basis for successful agriculture. The way soil retains water and drains water directly affects crop yields.

Common Soil Issues and Solutions

A comprehensive understanding of soil health goes beyond the scope of a brief article. The following are some soil problems and solutions, though not an exhaustive list, serve as a starting point for addressing soil safety.

1. Shallowing of the soil plowing layer: Often caused by insufficient plowing depth, resulting in decreased stress resistance of crops, reduced fertilizer utilization, and lower yields. The solution is to implement regular deep plowing, preferably once every 1-2 years.

2. Reduction in soil organic matter: Due to factors such as over-cultivation and over-irrigation, one phenomenon is that there are fewer earthworms in the soil. Soil compaction, reduced fertility, and problems such as soil acidification and secondary salinization. Remedies include increasing soil organic matter and applying organic and bacterial fertilizers.

3. Secondary soil salinization: Resulting from excessive fertilization and improper irrigation, leading to physiological drought, impaired nutrient absorption, and decreased soil quality. The solution includes flood irrigation (leaching) or creating pits to divert excess salts.

4. Soil acidification: Primarily caused by acid rain and irrational irrigation, posing serious threats to soil structure, microbial environment, nutrient utilization, and increasing harmful substances. Preventive measures involve environmental protection to mitigate acid rain and the rational application of lime to neutralize acidity.

5. Soil compaction: Typically induced by over-cultivation and over-irrigation, hindering soil aeration and ionic substance diffusion. Addressing this issue requires proper farming practices, such as terracing or maintaining vegetation.

6. Soil nutritional imbalance: Arising from irrational fertilization and continuous cropping, resulting in reduced product quality, yield, and increased vulnerability to pests and diseases. Solutions include crop rotation and soil testing to replenish missing nutrients.

7. Soil contamination: A severe issue, often caused by chemical pollutants. Its management necessitates a comprehensive effort involving the government, enterprises, and society. Contaminated land should prompt immediate assistance from the government.

8. Soil-plant protection system diseases: Often a consequence of increased soil pathogens due to continuous cropping, leading to crop diseases and reduced yields. Mitigation involves soil testing and improvement, as well as implementing crop rotation or fallow periods to reduce pathogen accumulation.

Scientific Soil Management: Sustainable Agricultural Practices

The causes of plant diseases are poor nutrition and unhealthy soil ecosystems. If you are a farmer, be sure to pay attention to your soil. Crops are like your "children". You must work hard to provide your children with a good growing environment and hope that they will grow up healthily. However, children are fragile. If the environment changes, they are unhealthy and have more viruses, they will easily get sick. At this time, we need to find the cause and prescribe the right medicine.

Below we introduce several soil treatment methods in detail.

1. Strengthening deep plowing is a relatively traditional farming method. By deepening the loose layer of soil, it promotes root growth and improves soil aeration and water permeability. When strengthening deep plowing, farmers should pay attention to reasonable control of plowing depth to avoid possible negative impacts, such as soil compaction and ecosystem damage.

2. Crop rotation and fallow two methods commonly used in agriculture to manage soil

(1) Crop rotation is an agricultural practice of growing different crops on the same piece of land to improve the structure and fertility of the soil.

(2) Fallowing means letting land rest for a period of time without being cultivated or planted. This helps soil recovery and regeneration.

Crop rotation and fallow are a powerful pair of tools that can help agriculture become more efficient, sustainable and environmentally friendly. In agricultural management, the flexible use of these two methods can maximize the potential of the land and ensure long-term agricultural prosperity.

3. Addition of organic matter used to improve soil quality, add nutrients, and promote crop growth. By using these organic materials rationally, farmers can reduce their reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, thereby achieving more sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural production. Common organic matter includes: compost, animal manure, plant residues, soil amendments, biofertilizers, and organic waste processing.

4. Accurate fertilization is a vital practice. Precisely applying the right fertilizer based on soil test results ensures plants get the nutrients they need and avoids environmental problems caused by over-fertilization. It can effectively prevent soil salinization.

5. Cover crops, also known as straw return, protect the soil, improve soil quality, and increase the sustainability of farmland by covering the soil surface with a layer of plant material, such as straw, wheat straw, corn stalks, etc. However, this method is controversial because if there are viruses in the straw, the viruses will also enter the soil and contaminate a new batch of seeds.

Make the soil better

Who wouldn't aspire to create a healthier environment for their "children"? At SOCO, we are dedicated to enhancing the vitality of the soil by boosting its nutrient absorption capacity through SOCO® Polymer. Our relentless efforts focus on making the soil more dynamic, ensuring optimal conditions for plant growth.

SOCO® Polymer, a key component of our commitment to soil health, excels in retaining moisture in the soil and activating nutrient molecules. In conventional scenarios, the efficiency of fertilizer absorption by crops typically ranges from 20% to 40%. By integrating SOCO® polymers, we can increase utilization by 10 to 20 percent.

What sets SOCO® Polymer apart is not only its effectiveness but also its environmentally friendly and decomposable nature. It goes beyond being just a commercial product; it embodies environmental responsibility and a genuine commitment to nurturing the land. Our aim is not only to offer a solution for improved agricultural practices but also to contribute to sustainable and caring stewardship of our precious natural resources. With SOCO® Polymer, we are not just enhancing crop yields; we are cultivating a future where agriculture and environmental harmony coexist.