For many years the farmer has learned how to feed plants the nutrition they need to produce. But, this is only one piece of the puzzle. We must recognize the fact that the soil is made up of living organisms and these organisms also need to be fed and maintained.
In balanced soil, plants grow in an active and vibrant environment. Without the activities of soil organisms, dead matter would accumulate and litter the soil surface, and there would be no food for the plants. There are literally thousands of various micro-organisms in the soil.
Bacteria are single-celled organisms, and are the most numerous of all microorganisms, with populations ranging from a few million to 3 billion per gram of soil. Bacteria live in soil water including the moisture surrounding soil particles. They also digest the fertilizers applied to the soil and turn them into plant available forms.
A single gram of soil contains around one million fungi such as yeasts, and molds. Fungi have no chlorophyll and are not able to photosynthesize. They are unable to use atmospheric carbon dioxide as a source of carbon so they need a chemical source of energy in able to perform their functions in the soil.
All plant and animal tissue (other than when it is burnt) is decomposed and broken down by the soil microbes. These decomposing particles of organic matter eventually become humus. This means that soils with high levels of humus will hold onto the nutrients so they can’t be leached off and will maintain greater availability to the plant.
“If you do what you have always done, you’ll only get what you’ve always got.” Take care of the soils and they will take care of you.