Soils Protect the Environment

2015 is the International Year of Soils, and the Soil Science Society of America has chosen September to highlight soil’s role in protecting the natural environment.  Soil plays a crucial role in the establishment of a natural environment.  The properties that will eventually define an ecosystem depend entirely upon the composition of soil in which that ecosystem is developing.  So, the differing soil compositions are very literally the foundation from which we enjoy the wildly diverse range of ecosystems across the world!

Why are there different types of soils?

The type of soil in an ecosystem is influenced by a variety of factors, and in turn, influences that ecosystem in a variety of ways.  The type and quantity of plant life is one factor that has a significant effect on the type of soil in that ecosystem.  For example, the grassland regions experience a large quantity and diversity of plant species, and it is the dying and decomposing of these plants that result in a deep layer of nutrient-rich soil.  In comparison, the soil found on the forest floor, where there is a substantially smaller vegetative population, has only a thin layer of nutrients.  This layer is drawn from the decomposition of fallen leaves and pine needles from the canopy of trees each year.

Other factors also contribute to the composition of soil in an ecosystem.  For example, the water content of an ecosystem plays a major role in determining the characteristics of the soil.  In a wetland region the soil spends a negligible amount of time exposed to air, and therefore there are fewer microorganisms available to help with the decomposition of plant matter.  The result of this is a soil packed with organic matter, but lacking mineral abundance.  In contrast to this, the soil of an arid desert region is rich with minerals, but because there is little or no moisture available, there is a lack of plant or organic matter.  All of these factors combine in varying degrees to create the unique and diverse spectrum of ecosystems across the world.

What role does soil play within an ecosystem?

Soil not only contributes to the definition and creation of an ecosystem, it serves several other roles once that environment has been established.  These roles also vary from ecosystem to ecosystem, and are dependent on an equally numerous amount of factors.  From sheltering animals to retaining water for plants to use, soil has an expansive list of duties to uphold in an environment.

Perhaps one of soil’s most unique operations is its ability to create a microclimate.  A microclimate is an area of differing moisture and temperatures than the surrounding area.   In a seemingly monotonous ecosystem, there may be pockets of soil that tend to hold more moisture than others, or areas that are shallow in comparison to elsewhere.  You may also find an enclosure that has accumulated a higher concentration of nutrients over the years, or vice versa.  All of these particular soil developments serve to create these microclimates, which in turn significantly increase the diversity of ecosystems.

This diversity that soil variation can produce has pronounced effects on the rest of the environment.  The different soils across ecosystems and the mild variations within ecosystems, all attract particular species of plants, which in turn attract particular species of insects and animals.  The importance of protecting the diversity which stems from unique soil conditions is crucial in the preservation of our natural areas.

Read more about how soils protect the natural environment at the Soil Science Society of America’s website.

Tags: Soil Health, International Year of Soils, IYS, Soil, environment, September