It absorbs and holds large amounts of water, and it improves the structure of the soil - increasing the total volume and size of pores that can hold water and preventing soil crusting. Tillage practices . Leaving residue on the surface slows runoff and prevents crusting. Residue encourages populations of earthworms and other burrowing organisms and water infiltrates rapidly into their burrows. Compaction prevention .
Compaction reduces water holding capacity by reducing the number and size of soil pores.
Erosion control . Erosion reduces the depth of your soil and its water-holding capacity. Life cycles of soil organisms Soil organisms were mentioned in connection with all three of the previous soil processes. Their life cycles are an integral part of the formation of soil structure and nutrient cycles, and their activity is highly dependent on the water status of soil. The food web of organisms living underground is at least as diverse and complex as the ecosystem of plants and animals living above ground.