Soil as a living organism

When many people think of soil, they think of dirt.   

Agri-Environmental Specialist Jacqueline Drieschner with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture said soil is much more than the ground beneath our feet. It is a living system that supports plant growth and plays an important role in crop productivity.   

“Soil is made up of minerals, organic matter, water, air and living organisms. While each of these components is important, it is the interaction among them that allows soil to function,” Drieschner said. “Organic matter helps store water and nutrients, while water and air support both plant roots and biological activity in the soil.   

What many people don’t realize is that the soil is also home to a large number of living organisms. In fact, a single teaspoon of healthy soil may contain hundreds of millions, or even more than a billion microorganisms.