The Rural Voice, 2002-04, Page 24HILL & HILL FARMS LTD.
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20 THE RURAL VOICE
structures says professor Bert
VandenBygaart. For example,
certain tillage systems might be used
to alter moisture retention properties
or combat soil compaction. Tillage
creates large pores in the soils too - at
least for a period of time. But as time
passes and the soil settles, these
larger pores will begin to disappear
and smaller pores will be created
until the tillage process is repeated.
Yet, as tillage is reduced the
earthworms can come back, generally
increasing by up to 30-50 per cent or
more in population under
conservation or no -till according to
Agriculture Canada. Under these
conditions, earthworm burrows and
cavities left by decaying roots create
large and more extensive pores that
are much more stable and long-
lasting. Since tillage was reduced the
smaller pores can also increase —
creating a healthy mix of both
smaller and larger pores, and one that
could potentially hold more water
under dry conditions and allow faster
absorption under wet conditions. Of
course, increased absorption may
lead to reduced erosion and Tess
pesticide and nutrient run-off.
As
any farmer will tell, tillage
is just one component of soil
management. Other
agricultural practices ranging from
the choice of cropping systems and
rotations, to the use of pesticides,
fertilizers, and even manure
applications each play a major role.
However, each of these may have a
profound impact on the biodiversity
in our soils. Earthworms are very
susceptible to insecticides,
fungicides, herbicides, and will die if
exposed to high concentrations of
nitrogen fertilizer. Although manure
is an excellent fertilizer, too much of
this high -nitrogen organic matter will
hinder both plant growth and
earthworm activity. After all, it is the
biodiversity that may have the
biggest impact on the nutrient levels
in our soils, its structure, its health —
and the long-term sustainability of
that soil.
I've often felt that "soil engineer"
would be a suitable title for farmers.
The earthworm after all has been
called an ecosystem engineer —
perhaps we can improve our
"engineering" by looking to the
earthworm to better understand the
soil ecosystem.0