Soil Health
What happens in the soil doesn't stay in the soil. Soil health directly affects water quality. Properly-managed pastures and fields with robust plant coverage, deep root systems, good drainage, rich organic matter, and strong biodiversity are able to regeneratively support themselves. Healthy soils filter out and recycle nutrients from manure and fertilizers, slow runoff, and build up topsoil.
Given its direct impact on water quality, soil health remains a critical piece of our efforts. In recent years, we’ve made progress towards improving soil health by illustrating the impact of healthy soils at Growing Forward Farm in Aztec, NM, and by teaching healthy soil principles and best practices to local farmers and ranchers. The insights we shared benefit these farmers and ranchers by improving their soil quality and water absorption to increase yields.
Five healthy soil principles for building healthy soils on any property:
Keep Soil Covered
Minimize Disturbance
Maintain a Living Root
Maximize Biodiversity
Integrate Animals