This World Soil Day, one of our passionate volunteers, Bornali, highlights the significance of soil health in agriculture and global ecosystems at large. Read their insightful findings below!
Farm and food systems in Ontario rely on healthy soil to determine both the quality and quantity of produce. The benefits from healthy soil are manifold, including enriched crop growth, higher yields, increased water and nutrient retention, biodiversity, and climate change resiliency. Soil fertility is measured by its ability to grow crops. The content of the soil’s organic matter plays a pivotal role in ensuring ideal soil structure, fertility, drainage, and tolerance to erosion. Healthy soil is essential to maintaining the long-term sustainability and productivity of our agricultural lands. Ontario’s agri-food industry accounted for 6.4% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2023, generating employment for over 800,000 people, and farm cash worth $47 billion for Ontario farmers—all made possible by the health and productivity of our soils [1].
Why Organic Soils Are Ontario’s Best-Kept Secret
Organic soils are formed through the decomposition of many generations of plant residues which have been preserved due to a lack of oxygen. This process of organic soil formation is estimated to take about 500 years, only to yield 30 cm of soil. As the name suggests, organic soils contain a significant amount of soil organic matter (SOM), and one of its subgroups, peat soil, is predominantly found on Ontario farmlands. Peat soils typically contain over 75% organic matter, making them highly fertile and ideal for vegetable production [2]. These organic soils are vital to Ontario’s success in growing perennial crops like apples, peaches, and grapes, contributing significantly to the province’s agricultural economy and food security. Additionally, organic soil can sequester carbon and support a diversity of microorganisms, flora, and fauna. This unique combination offers immense potential to drive agricultural productivity while benefitting the environment and our communities [3].
The Life Organic Soils Nurture: Farms, Forests, and Beyond
Many processes in global ecosystems, including nutrient cycling, climate regulation, water retention, and food production are supported by soil health. A 1% increase in SOM can increase the soil’s water-holding capacity by 20,000 gallons per acre, providing critical benefits to deep-rooted perennials like fruit trees and vines, particularly during Ontario’s summer droughts. Ontario vineyard studies show that higher SOM levels yielded 15-25% more grapes of higher quality compared to lower SOM plots [7,2]. These findings highlight the importance of maintaining and improving SOM for the longevity of agriculture, even in the face of unpredictable weather events.
Nearly 20% of Ontario’s farmland is made up of natural landscapes including forests, wetlands, and grasslands [12]. Ontario’s forests flourish on organic soils consisting of leaf litter, decomposed wood, and other organic debris. These nutrient-rich soils sustain native vegetation, including maple, oak, and pine forests, which rely on them for essential nutrients and water. Additionally, these soils foster rich biodiversity, hosting fungi, insects, and animals that form complex ecological networks. Beyond their ecological role, organic soils in forested areas are critical for storing significant amounts of carbon, helping to mitigate the effects of climate change [5].
Protecting Ontario’s Precious Organic Soils
Soil health in Ontario has been affected significantly by climate change. Rising temperatures and unpredictable precipitation patterns increase the risk of soil erosion, where warmer and drier conditions cause soils to dry and crack, further resulting in wind and water erosion. This erosion diminishes organically rich topsoil. Factors such as soil compaction, loss of soil structure, poor internal drainage, and soil acidity also play a role in accelerating soil erosion [8].
Agricultural soils in Ontario face compounding challenges: the SOM percentage is declining in some areas while the prevalence of bare soil steadily rises, making the soil vulnerable to erosion. In Southern Ontario, farms have seen a 50% depletion in organic matter since 1948 [9]. Given these trends, protecting and nurturing Ontario’s organic soil is critical to ensuring crop productivity, food security, and environmental well-being.
Small Steps, Big Impact: How We Care for Organic Soils Together
Ontario’s dwindling organic soil resources are seeing daybreak with dedicated farmers, ranchers, growers, researchers, and agricultural organizations committed to preserving and protecting soil health.
Honorable mentions include Everdale Farm; a not-for-profit organization championing regenerative agriculture. Through training and practical demonstrations, they promote sustainable soil management practices such as cover cropping and composting. As well, organic farmers DJ Wassenaar and Matt Bergman brought a wave of sustainable agriculture to Ontario, emphasizing organic crop production and innovative soil conservation techniques centered on ecosystem health.
Organizations like the Organic Council of Ontario play a crucial role as advocates for organic and regenerative agriculture. By supporting policies and programs that prioritize sustainable farming, they amplify the efforts of local farmers. Additionally, Farm and Food Care Ontario is doing commendable work in this sphere by engaging with farmers to implement sustainable nutrient management farming strategies [11].
Conclusion
Access to comprehensive soil information—such as nutrient profiles, soil maps, and soil types—is essential for farmers and policymakers to make informed decisions about on-farm practices and land-use planning. Equally important is the distribution of up-to-date, science-based resources to agricultural stakeholders, including farmers, landowners, advisors, and policymakers, to support effective soil management and conservation.
As a vital natural resource, soil is fundamental to our agri-food sector, food security, and environmental health, making it essential to designate soil as a strategic national asset for the country’s future.
References:
- https://www.ontario.ca/page/grow-ontario-provincial-agri-food-strategy
- https://openpress.usask.ca/soilscience/chapter/soil-organic-matter/
- Vanderhaut J (2024), Ontario fruits and vegetables grown sustainably, adapted from: https://www.ofvga.org/news-releases/ontario-fruits-and-vegetables-grown-sustainably-study-shows
- Adapted from article titled: Holland Marsh – A reminder from Ontario’s Soup and Salad Bowl
- Brienesse et al, Forest Management Guide to Silviculture in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence and Boreal Forests of Ontario. Environment and Energy OMAFRA
- Ducks Unlimited Canada. “Peatlands: Canada’s Secret Weapon Against Climate Change.”
- Brady, N. C., & Weil, R. R. (2008). The Nature and Properties of Soils. 14th Edition. Pearson Education.
- Zabel, F., et al. (2019). Climate change impacts on global agriculture. Nature Sustainability, 2(9), 767–775.
- Adapted from the article titled “New Horizons: Ontario’s Agricultural Soil Health and Conservation Strategy” OMAFRA
- World Wildlife Fund (WWF). “How You Can Help Save Soil: A Guide for Everyday Actions.”
- https://farmonaut.com/canada/ontarios-young-farmers-lead-organic-revolution-sustainable-agriculture-trends-reshaping-canadian-farmlands/)
- Statistics Canada. 2021. Census of Agriculture. Retrieved from Statistics Canada.