Video: Ask an Expert: Why do farmers test their soil?
If you’ve ever grown a garden, you’ll understand that plants need healthy soil to grow. But just what is soil?
Soil is a living ecosystem made up of sand, silt and clay particles, as well as minerals, organic matter and pockets of moisture and air. Soil organic matter consists of both decaying plant material and living organisms that make their home in the soil. This includes small mammals and insects, as well as tiny microorganisms that turn decaying plant material into food for plants.
Did you know that soil is the most diverse habitat on earth? It is teeming with life. One small handful of healthy soil contains more living organisms than the entire population of humans on Earth!