carel smith

The soil food web is complex and fed by organic matter such as decaying plants, animals, and microbes as well as nutrients released by living plant roots. The organic material is digested by bacteria, fungi, and other life forms, which are in turn eaten by worms, insects, and spiders.




"Soil organic matter" includes all the organic substances in or on the soil. Here are terms used to describe different types of organic matter.

What feeds the soil organisms???

Here's living organisms, dead organic material (plants or animals), active fraction organic matter 🤔🤔🤔, labile organic matter, root exudates, POM/LF organic matter, lignin, recalcitrant organic matter, humus or humified organic matter.

The living component of soil, the food web, is complex and has different compositions in different ecosystems. Management of croplands, rangelands, forestlands, and gardens benefits from and affects the food web. The next unit of the Soil Biology Primer, The Food Web & Soil Health, introduces the relationship of soil biology to agricultural productivity, biodiversity, carbon sequestration and to air and water quality. The remaining six units of the Soil Biology Primer describe the major groups of soil organisms: bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, arthropods, and earthworms.

Do you know that there's a way to feed the soil food web? 😁😁😁

Here are 5 ways according to The Compost Group 🌱🌱🌱

Add organic matter like compost, compost tea, and organic mulches

Manage nutrients by adding amendments

Use cover crops to diversify

No tilling and avoid compaction, let it grow

Say bye to -cides and commit to organic

And this all starts if you start COMPOSTING or why not let them help you to COMPOST. Start by dropping of your food scraps. Go to this LINK to know more 😉😉😉

In my previous post I have introduced you to tumbler method of composting with detailed steps from my favorite group The Compost Group. For a short overview, vermicomposting is where you use worms to expedite the breakdown of your food scraps. It has a lot of benefits to a home composter.

Worm poop!

Yes!

Ready to start ?

Check this out for a step-by-step procedure in making a vermicomposting bin!

Any suggestions or methods? Share them with me, glad to know more :)

Happy composting!!! 😊

There are many types of composting methods and if you want to start I can suggest an easy one.

A compost tumbler is a type of composting bin that allow households to more easily turn their compost piles. The compost barrel rotates on an axis, and is heated through trapped air. However, tumblers are not considered anaerobic because oxygen is introduced into the vessel as the individual spins the tumbler bin. This method of composting typically takes between 3-4 weeks to produce finished home compost.

Here are 6 easy steps
1. Have a tumbler
2. Decide on a ratio
3. Place the tumbler in a sunny spot.
4. Fill up the tumbler
5. Spin. Water. Fill.
6. Checkout if bin is with too much moisture, too little air flow, critters.

For more detailed steps checkout my reference at The Compost Group

Happy Composting!!!