Farming & Agriculture: Loss of Soil Organic Matter and Its Restoration

Farming & Agriculture: Loss of Soil Organic Matter and Its Restoration: By William A. Albrecht Professor of Soils  University of Missouri This article was Published by  U.S. Dept. of Agric., Soils and Men.New Awareness and New Responsibility

American citizens are becoming conscious of the fact that loss of fertility and the depletion of organic matter in the soil are partly responsible for the menace of erosion. The first step in remedying this situation is to restore fertility by the use of lime and fertilizer. The second step is to put some lands permanently into sod crops--legumes wherever possible, and the better grasses--and to use sod more regularly in rotations on tillable cropped lands. The conservation and use of such farm wastes as crop residues and manures should be included as the third step.

If these practices are recommended as proper soil management by all agricultural agencies, their adoption by individual farmers will become so common that the rate of soil depletion will be lessened. The need for long-time investments in materials that build up the soil in organic matter and fertility should be recognized in granting credit to farmers. Both owners and tenants must accept responsibility for soil conservation and work for it cooperatively. Unearned increment, the great wealth producer of the past, should be recognized as largely responsible for the mining of soil fertility and the burning up of soil organic matter until it has reached such a low level that this source of wealth has an extremely uncertain outlook in the future. The heritage of soil fertility and organic matter that we are handing on to the next generation is not large enough to be used lavishly. Careful conservation and thrifty management will be imperative if it is to yield even a moderate income.

This article tells why organic matter in the soil may be considered our most important national resource. The author describes how it furnishes fuel for "bacterial wrecking crews" and how it is turned into plant nutrients. He shows that many of our farm practices have enormously reduced the supply originally present in the soil and warns that we must expect a permanently lower level of agricultural efficiency if we do not take steps to counteract this waste. The problems involved in maintaining an adequate supply of organic matter in the soil are dealt with from a practical standpoint.

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