- Maintaining healthy soil is an important element of regenerative agriculture - increasing soil fertility, biodiversity, water retention and storing carbon.
- Plant health relates to soil health.
- Plants are more able to resist pests and diseases in healthy soil, so less need for pesticides.
- Healthy soil has a good balance of inorganic and organic components as well as micro and macro-organisms.
- Healthy soil retains enough air and water for good plant growth.
- Healthy soil has an important role in capturing and keeping carbon in the soil (carbon sequestration).
- Soil can be tested for minerals and pH.
- Soil health can be improved using compost, green manures and limiting tilling.
Pacific Pests, Pathogens and Weeds - Online edition
Pacific Pests, Pathogens, Weeds & Pesticides
Healthy soil (486)
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Summary
AUTHOR Caroline Smith
Information from Peter Dunne (2021) Regenerative agriculture part 2: A soils-first farming & food policy. (https://www.resilience.org/stories/2021-03-04/regenerative-agriculture-part-2-a-soils-first-farming-food-policy/); and Soil properties. Queensland Government. (https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/land/management/soil/soil-properties); Pacific Farmer Organisations (2019) Organic and regenerative agriculture. (https://pacificfarmers.com/organic-and-regenerative-agriculture/); Improving soil health in support of sustainable development in the Pacific, 2011-2015. Soil and Land Management. ACIAR, Canberra. (https://aciar.gov.au/project/smcn-2009-003). Diagram. Soil texture. Queensland Government. (https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/land/management/soil/soil-properties/texture).
Produced with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research under project HORT/2016/185: Responding to emerging pest and disease threats to horticulture in the Pacific islands, implemented by the University of Queensland and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.
