Have you ever wondered what the big deal about organic matter in soil is? Why do gardeners, landscapers and any person growing grass, food and trees care so much about the soil organic matter (SOM)? Let’s put it simply:
If you have kids, you want what’s best for them. You want them to grow healthy and strong, so you feed them with nutrient-rich food (veggies, fruits, protein and more), some of you might give them gummies (for extra vitamins) and make sure their bodies get all the nutrients needed to have energy, fight diseases and conditions and grow strong.
With plants, it’s pretty much the same thing, except we commonly focus on the plant itself, forgetting that they absorb nutrients from the soil. So, what should you do? You should feed the soil and let the soil feed the plants.
Soil organic matter (SOM) is the very foundation for healthy and productive soils. The primary food that soils needs is organic matter and compost is the best way to provide it. Compost not only conditions soils, but also acts as slow-release fertilizer.
Its value goes beyond improving soil structure and providing nutrients. Soil health is, as we’ve explained, directly related to plant health. And, as is true of healthy people, healthy plants are better able to resist attack by pest and disease-causing pathogens. Not to mention that a mere 5% increase in organic matter in soil quadruples its capacity to hold water and restores the soil’s natural functions (it brings soil back to pre-development state).