The ground beneath our feet is alive. This simple yet profound statement encapsulates the essence of soil health and its role in climate-smart agriculture. The concept that soil health is crucial for crop production is not new, but it is often overlooked due to its complexity and the difficulty in measuring and defining it. However, understanding what makes soil healthy and how healthy soils function can drive awareness, support, and adoption of best practices that promote soil health, including the use of innovative technologies like those offered by Lucent Bio.
Soil health is defined as the capacity of soil to function within ecosystem and land-use boundaries, sustaining biological productivity, maintaining environmental quality, and promoting plant, animal, and human health.
Healthy soils perform a multitude of functions that support plant growth, including nutrient cycling, biological control of pests, and regulation of water and air supply. These functions are influenced by the interrelated physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil, many of which are sensitive to soil management practices.
“A healthy soil provides many functions that support plant growth, including nutrient cycling, biological control of plant pests, and regulation of water and air supply. These functions are influenced by the interrelated physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil, many of which are sensitive to soil management practices.” - Dr. Rigas Karamanos
Key Components of Healthy Soil:
The concept that "Healthy Soils Breathe" is grounded in scientific evidence showing that soil ecosystems dynamics and critical for sustaining life on Earth. Soil contains diverse microbial communities that respire to decompose organic matter, releasing nutrients and gasses essential for functional soil health. This natural breathing process involves cycling between oxygen-rich (aerobic) and oxygen-poor (anaerobic) conditions, supporting soil microbes that are crucial for breaking down organic matter and recycling nutrients.
Healthy soils 'breathe' by naturally cycling gasses like oxygen, carbon dioxide, and methane, which flow between soils, plants, and the atmosphere. Plants contribute to soil respiration by providing organic matter through root exudates and leaf litter. This interaction enhances soil health and productivity by:
Lucent Bio is at the forefront of promoting soil health with its innovative products, Soileos and Nutreos. These technologies enhance soil health by supporting active microbial communities and efficient nutrient cycling, driving sustainable crop production and environmental resilience.
Healthy soils are the foundation of sustainable crop production. Approximately 95% of our food is directly or indirectly produced on soils, making soil health crucial for food security.
Healthy soils improve water and air quality by filtering pollutants and regulating the flow of gasses. They also support biodiversity, housing a quarter of the planet’s species.
Maintaining soil health ensures long-term sustainability and resilience in farming. This is critical for adapting to climate change and ensuring food security for future generations.
Healthy soils are living, dynamic ecosystems essential for climate-smart agriculture. By understanding and promoting soil health, we can drive sustainable farming practices that enhance crop production, environmental quality, and resilience against climate change. Lucent Bio’s innovative solutions, Soileos and Nutreos, are at the forefront of this effort, supporting active microbial communities and efficient nutrient cycling. Join us in the mission to support healthy soils and sustainable agriculture for a better future.