The Earth’s soil is home to more than 7,000 species of organisms. It is one of the most vital and vast ecosystems present on our planet. But unfortunately, even the soil has been deteriorating drastically for the last 70 years in terms of biodiversity, nutrition, and soil erosion. So it is time we take the initiative to contribute to solving this great environmental issue that has been concerning the environment for about 4,000 years as a result of agricultural practices.
Why is soil biodiversity important?
Organisms that inhabit the soil have positive impacts on soil fertility and plant growth, therefore supporting agriculture. They help in the decomposition of organic matter and circulate important elements such as nitrogen and oxygen. Disturbing the soil biodiversity would lead to detrimental effects on soil and agriculture.
The soil is a very nutritious element on the surface of our planet, but gradually, the nutrition levels have dropped down. The nutritional values of some popular vegetables, from asparagus to spinach, have dropped significantly since 1950. The average calcium levels in 12 fresh vegetables dropped by 27%. These are some pieces of evidence of how our planets soil is declining because of lacking nutrient levels.
The rate of soil erosion has increased by around 80%, which is a severe threat to soil biodiversity, agriculture, and plant growth. It may cause major floods and desertification.
And this is how the Earth's soil is moving towards a threatening future.
But we still have time to create a better future for our planet. Taking a step towards better soil means taking a step toward a better environment.
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