Healthy soils are key to producing good harvests with minimal pest problems.
Maintaining a balanced soil ecosystem, however, remains a challenge for even the most experienced farmers and gardeners. With co-author Harold van Es of Cornell University, Magdoff presents practical approaches to raise fertility, promote good soil tilth, improve nutrient levels, and boost yields, all while reducing adverse environmental impacts. Our goal is for readers to understand the reasons certain management practices improve soil health. This way, farmers and gardeners can customize various practices to their own particular soils and crops. Background chapters detail the basics of soil health, organic matter, nutrients, and soil physical properties.