By Anesa Liptak
Soil Health Technician
When we think about the major ecosystems on earth, soil is not typically on the top of the list. Forests, oceans, and the atmosphere tend to grab all the attention. But the truth is, healthy soil is doing a huge amount of behind-the-scenes work. It helps grow our food, manages water, stores carbon, and supports an incredible variety of life. Without healthy soil, ecosystems struggle – and people do too.
So, what exactly is soil health? Simply put, it’s the soil’s ability to function as a living system. Soil isn’t just dirt. It’s a busy mix of minerals, organic matter, water, air, and living organisms. Beneath the surface, bacteria, fungi, insects, worms, and plant roots are constantly interacting. Together, they recycle nutrients, improve soil structure, and help plants grow strong and resilient.
Healthy soil does a few key things really well. It delivers nutrients to plants efficiently, holds onto water without becoming waterlogged, and drains excess moisture when needed. It also resists erosion, avoids compaction, and supports biodiversity both above and below ground. In short, it creates the right conditions for plants – and entire ecosystems – to thrive.
One of the biggest reasons soil health matters is food security. Crops grown in healthy soil tend to be stronger, more resistant to pests and disease, and better able to handle drought. They’re often more nutritious too.
Soil also plays a major role in climate regulation. In fact, soils store more carbon than the atmosphere and all plant life combined. When soils are healthy and rich in organic matter, they act like carbon banks, locking carbon away. When soils are damaged – through heavy tillage, erosion, or chemical overuse – that carbon is released back into the air, adding to climate change.
Water is also an essential piece of the puzzle. Healthy soil absorbs rainfall, reducing runoff and helping prevent floods. It also filters pollutants before they reach rivers and groundwater. Degraded soils, on the other hand, erode more easily and can contribute to dirty water and flooding.
Many modern land-use practices put stress on soils. Intensive tillage, overuse of fertilizers and pesticides, monocropping, overgrazing, and urban development all take a toll. Globally, a large portion of topsoil has already been degraded – often much faster than it can naturally rebuild.
The good news? Soil can recover. Farmers, gardeners, and land managers are increasingly using practices that work with nature instead of against it. Cover crops, reduced tillage, composting, crop rotation, integrating livestock, and cutting back on chemicals all help rebuild soil health. Even small actions, like composting food scraps or planting a diverse garden, can make a difference.
Soil takes a long time to form – hundreds of years to build just a few centimeters. Taking care of it is an investment in our future. Healthy soil may be out of sight, but it shouldn’t be out of mind.
If you, or someone you know are interested in adopting soil health practices on their land, the Fillmore SWCD offers technical and financial assistance.
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