Soil is the foundation upon which all agricultural activities
are built. And therefore, it is the crux of the environmental
movement to make sure our most precious resource is preserved
(and created) sustainably. The first step to doing so, however,
is understanding its ecology. Take it away, experts! The first
step toward effective ecological soil management is an
appreciation of the complex, living system known as soil. And to
understand soil is to be aware of how everything affects and is
affected by it. We are all part of the soil ecosystem. Soil
fertility can be described as its capacity to nurture healthy
plants. Sustainable agriculture aims to protect the soil’s
ability to regenerate nutrients lost when crops are
harvested—without dependence on “off-farm” fertilizers. This
regenerative capacity, in turn, depends on the diversity,
health, and vitality of the organisms that live, grow,
reproduce, and die in the soil. Through the activities of soil
microbes—which can number in the billions in every gram o