Synthetic fertilizers have certainly played important roles in food and fiber production and increasing crop yields over the years. However, excessive fertilizer use can quietly harm these beneficial soil microbe communities, in addition to fueling water pollution.
Studies have shown that overfertilizing can weaken the underground partnerships between plants and microbes that are fundamental to helping plants access nutrients and tolerate stress. Too much nitrogen fertilizer can reduce the diversity and abundance of beneficial soil microbes.
cross-posted from: https://news.abolish.capital/post/63106
Across North America, in places such as Illinois, Iowa and Texas, farmers are busy growing the crops the world depends on for food, fuel and fiber.
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My mom always questions why volunteer oaks started popping up on our property. I try to tell her, every time, that it’s because we don’t use poison and we don’t cut down our fields. Over time, all that thatch growing, setting, decaying, etc. has clearly done wonders for the soil. Mushrooms also frequently pop up in our fields, which I’ve read is a good indicator for soil health.
She consistently tries to argue that weed seeds are bad for compost so they must be bad for the soil. I gave up.
Tillage is much more damaging to soils and these systems than fertilization. I won’t refute that Chem. Fertilizer can have negative effects, but this is generally more of a chronic issue that builds up over time
