The project focuses on (re)discovering soil life in North Limburg agricultural plots.
Soil life is an essential component of soil quality, but is often overlooked today. Soil analyses usually do not extend beyond physical and chemical parameters, including organic matter content, but miss soil microbiology. In fact, soil bacteria and fungi are essential for the conversion of organic to mineral nutrients, making nutrients more available to plants, drought resistance and disease resistance.
It is an important objective of this project to raise the profile of soil life in soil quality. Intensive use of agricultural soils is causing soil quality deterioration at physical, chemical and biological levels. The application of heavy machinery, pesticides, fertilisers, monoculture, etc. is often detrimental to our soils. A transition in farmers' thinking and actions is necessary to turn the tide. A better knowledge and appreciation of soil and microbial soil life is a first step towards better soil management.
At its inception, the project focuses on surveying soil life under varying agricultural applications. In this way, the project seeks to give farmers a better understanding of the current state of North Limburg's agricultural soils. The inventory also forms the basis for demonstration and training of farmers, the most important part of the project. A good knowledge of soil life is fundamental for good soil management. The project thus aims to obtain a higher appreciation and improvement of soil quality on North Limburg agricultural plots in the long term.
