As soil structure improves, tillage becomes easier and potentially less costly. Pollution prevention . Soil organisms filter and detoxify chemicals and absorb the excess nutrients that would otherwise become pollutants when they reach groundwater or surface water. Improved yield and crop quality . Soil organisms are key to forming good soil structure or tilth.
Good tilth promotes better root development and water storage.
Many microorganisms enhance crop growth or reduce the activity of disease organisms that can degrade the quality of food and feed. Your land management choices help determine what lives in your soil and how well your soil works for you. This publication will help you consider the effects of management decisions on the soil community. A night crawler has pulled a dead corn leaf into its burrow. Earthworms are some of the most visible members of the soil community, but tons of bacteria, fungi, and other organisms are also essential to soil productivity.