30 soil facts

Soil is complex blend of organic matter, minerals, water, air and micro organisms.
Many of today's antibiotics have been derived from soil - eg. penicillin
There are three main types of soil - clay, sand and loam. They are grouped according to the amounts of coarse sand and fine clay particles and organic matter they contain.
A teaspoon of healthy soil can contain up to a billion bacteria.
In 1g of soil there can be hundreds of metres of fungal hyphae (strands of fungal growth).
A healthy population of soil microbes can help reduce pathogens that cause plant diseases.
Atmospheric carbon dioxide can be stored ('sequestered') in soil.
Productive soil can contain up to 7 million earthworms per hectare
The giant Gippsland earthworm, native to Australia, can be up to 3 metres long!
Earthworms do have a head and a bottom!
Earthworms can eat up to a third of their bodyweight each day
Soil rich in organic matter can store up to 30% of its weight in water
A study revealed daily gardening can reduce risk of dementia by 36%
Soil contains 25% of our planet's biodiversity
It is thought that early exposure to microorganisms, including soil microorganisms, could help reduce disease incidence later in life.
Soil is able to filter and trap environmental pollutants, helping to prevent them leaching into the groundwater
There are around 6000 species of earthworms in the world
Soil contains microorganisms that may promote happiness in humans.
What is clay? Clay is very small mineral particles of weathered rocks and clay soil can retain lots of moisture and nutrients. Clay soil can be improved by adding organic matter, like Yates Dynamic Lifter Organic Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser.
What is sand? Sand is coarse, loose particles of rocks and minerals. Sandy soil drains freely and doesn't hold nutrients well. Sandy soil can be improved by adding organic matter, like Yates Dynamic Lifter Organic Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser.
Soil is home to a quarter of the earth's organisms!
What is loam? Loam soil is a wonderful mixture of clay and sand particles plus organic matter.
Soil microorganisms are very important - they break down organic matter into nutrients that plants can use.
Organic matter in the soil can store water like a sponge. You can help increase your soil's organic matter levels by regularly applying Yates Dynamic Lifter.
What is soil pH? It's a measure of soil acidity or alkalinity. Most plants like growing in soil that's close to pH 'neutral' or just slightly acidic. What's your soil pH?
Earthworms breathe through their skin!
There are special soil bacteria that live on the roots of legumes, like peas and beans, that convert nitrogen in the air into nitrogen that plants can use.
Plant roots need access to oxygen. Burrowing earthworms help aerate the soil, allowing more air (and oxygen) to plant roots.
How do you encourage more earthworms and soil microorganisms? They both love organic matter, so regular applications of Yates Dynamic Lifter will promote more of these wonderful soil inhabitants.
It's vital that we care for our soils. Around 95% of the world's food is produced on soil!