|
||
Written by: Summer Graham An often-overlooked aspect in the restoration of natural areas is one of the most important – the soil. Soil creates the foundation (literally) for plant establishment, so properly restoring soil before planting can make the difference between a successful project and a failed one.
Many people think of soil as “just dirt”, but it is much, much more than that.
Historically, when agricultural soils became depleted of nutrients from constant farming, farmers turned to additives such as fertilizers. But these solutions are only a temporary fix, and do not address the issue that led to poor soil health in the first place. By harvesting crops from the land year after year, traditional farming breaks the natural process of nutrient cycling since carbon and other nutrients are not returned to the soil by naturally decomposing on the land.
When it comes to protecting and restoring soils, there are some useful guidelines available. While many of these focus on the importance of soil from an agricultural standpoint, organizations like Credit Valley Conservation and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority have useful guides for soil management during development and restoration activities. These resources have helpful information on salvaging and replacing topsoil, testing soils, dealing with issues such as compaction, and creating soil management plans. They also provide general guidelines for integrating compost and other organic material into a site.
Keep in mind that each site will be different and methods for successful soil restoration may vary depending on your target or goal, and recommendations may also differ depending on where you live in Canada. Here are a few recommendations that are good place to start!
Additional Reading: Soil Science Society of America - Why is Soil Important?
The Plant Microbiome and Native Plant Restoration: The Example of Native Mycorrhizal Fungi
To restore our soils, feed the microbes
Using Beneficial Soil Microbes to Improve Plant Growth
How Do You Restore Degraded Soil? - The Permaculture Research Institute
Additional Learning:
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
![]() |
CanPlant Blog 44 June 22, 2022 |