Soil is just one of those things that for some is extremely dull and for others, like gardeners, is quite exciting. There are five things below about soil which could not be understood already.
One: It is a known fact that an estimated 25 per cent of all the world’s soil is being degraded through intensive agricultural practices such as tilling and poor crop rotation.
Two: Soil might not be where most people would choose to make a home, however, in an acre of soil, up to ten tonnes of animal life can live happily.
Thirdly, it is estimated that food is grown on about 10% of the world’s land in order to provide food for both human-beings and animals.
4. So that plants can find the necessary water, their roots can travel through the soil at about ½ inch per day which is quite extraordinary.
Fifthly, it is amazing to think that a simple earthworm is able to digest about 36 tons of soil before recycling it back into the soil layer making it rich and nutritious.
6. At least 1 million earthworms could possibly be found in just one acre of rich grass land – although counting them might be a problem.
7. Just 1 spadeful of soil could contain more species of living things than the Amazon rain forest contains in total above ground.
Eight: Animals that hide seeds and nuts in soil such as squirrels, are contributing to the soils richness because they decompose over time releasing nutrients and fibrous material..
9. If one was to count all of the people in the entire world, there would still be more clay particles in one handful of clay.
Tenth, soil is made up from minerals, air, water and organic matter at 45 percent, 25 percent, 25 percent and 5 percent respectively.
Soil is clearly a massive subject and to know everything about it could take you some time. However, most people don’t have that much spare time to learn about soil, and so this list points out the most interesting.
