Fertilizer/Potting Soil

Soil is a crucial part for life on Earth. Soil is made up of organic matter, mixture of
minerals, and organisms which help support life on Earth. Without soil, there would be no plants
or animals on Earth. Soil is a vital part of the environment. Soil controls the flow of water and
also, it helps maintain our atmosphere regulated by acting as a source and store for gases.
Believe it or not, soil is a huge part of our cultural heritage. In the soil, researchers have found
archaeological remains and had seen how soil was modified for agriculture which allow us to see
how older civilizations lived. Soil is also the worlds largest natural water filter. When water
flows though soil, the microorganisms in the soil absorbs nutrients like calcium and potassium
and remove them from the water supply. Also, they decompose organic pollutants making
nutrients available for plants when needed. Soil is a very important part of life. Unfortunately, it
seems like we are losing more and more soil. Most of us might think that soil is a renewable
resource but once we see the statistics, the pollution, the effects of erosion, and the soils
degradation, we see that fertile soil is a nonrenewable ecosystem which is closely becoming
endangered.
Over the 40 years, about one third of the worlds cropland, which is 1.5 billion hectares
(3.7 billion acres), have been abandoned due to erosion and the soils degradation. Taking into
consideration that it takes 500 years to get 1 inch of topsoil, soil is being swept away faster than
it can be replenished. When soil is swept away by water, it increases the risk of water
contamination and of flooding. The main reason of soils degradation is due to human activities.
About 15% of the worlds land, which is the size of both the United States and Mexico
combined, have been degraded due to human activities such as deforestation and overgrazing. If
we keep losing soil the same rate it has been for the past 40 years, it will come a day when their
will be not enough arable land to feed all the animals and people which is going to start a world
epidemic. The world need soil in order for life to flourish. It plays a key part on life on Earth. A
world without soil is a world without life.
Luckily, researchers had found many possible solutions. One of the simplest solutions is
to plant vegetation. Vegetation such as trees and plants will make soil stronger by fortifying and
stabilizing the soil with strong root structures which makes soil less vulnerable to erosion. By
having soil becoming less vulnerable to erosion, soil degradation will be less likely which allows
for more arable land to be used.
Another way is to add retaining walls and edges. By doing this, it will reduce soil
degradation since soil will be more stable. With the soil being more stable, soil will become less
vulnerable to erosion.
Another solution to this problem is making your own fertilizer using old vegetables and
fruit. By letting them decompose for a few months, you can make mulch which can be used to
provide essential nutrients to soil. When degraded soil is provided to the essential nutrients, the
degraded soil can become arable which means that we can get transformed all unusable land to
arable land that can provide food and life.
Soil is an important key to life on Earth. Without arable land, life will not flourish on our
beautiful planet Earth. Soil degradation and erosion has caused a huge problem in the world but
luckily, new solutions are created every day to tackle this problem. With the help of everyone
working together, we can tackle this problem and find a great solution.