Soil is the Immune System of the Garden
When we experience stress, especially chronic stress, our immune system weakens and our body becomes increasingly susceptible to disease and infection. Plants, including the vegetables in our gardens, are more vulnerable to experiencing pest or disease issues when under chronic stress, too. The presence of pests and disease in the garden, then, is a symptom of stress where the soil, environment, and/or climate does not fully support the needs of the plant(s) affected. Therefore, assuming adequate moisture and climatic conditions, the solution for many pest and disease issues experienced in the garden resides mostly in the soil. To understand this concept further we can continue to look at our own body as an analogy.
Our gut hosts billions of microbes and bacteria that act as a primary defense against disease. Without a healthy gut and intestinal microbiome, we are at increased risk of disease. Likewise, the soil, and the microbiome it contains, is the plant’s immune system. If we were to put two of the same plants next to each other - one with appropriate soil, the other with inadequate soil - the latter will be more likely to experience pest and disease issues.
In short, a healthier soil is synonymous with a healthier plant. To eradicate and kill the diseases and pests that attack our vegetables without fully appreciating the reasons why avoids a potential opportunity to nurture the soil for long-term health.
To nurture the soil in ways that benefit the soil microbiome and increase capacity for the soil to act as a healthy immune system we need to shift our thinking from one of attacking disease to one of nurturing the soil as a living organism. Paying attention to the symptom of pests and disease can determine a more holistic path to healthcare in the garden. Below are some ways to nurture your garden soil microbiome:
Our gut hosts billions of microbes and bacteria that act as a primary defense against disease. Without a healthy gut and intestinal microbiome, we are at increased risk of disease. Likewise, the soil, and the microbiome it contains, is the plant’s immune system. If we were to put two of the same plants next to each other - one with appropriate soil, the other with inadequate soil - the latter will be more likely to experience pest and disease issues.
In short, a healthier soil is synonymous with a healthier plant. To eradicate and kill the diseases and pests that attack our vegetables without fully appreciating the reasons why avoids a potential opportunity to nurture the soil for long-term health.
To nurture the soil in ways that benefit the soil microbiome and increase capacity for the soil to act as a healthy immune system we need to shift our thinking from one of attacking disease to one of nurturing the soil as a living organism. Paying attention to the symptom of pests and disease can determine a more holistic path to healthcare in the garden. Below are some ways to nurture your garden soil microbiome:
- Crop Rotation - Rotate your crops from season to season and from year to year to prevent unhealthy pathologies from developing. This is the same concept of varying our diet.
- Till Minimally - Each time a garden is tilled, organic matter, microbes, and bacteria are exposed to the air, which can expedite their termination and increase the rate at which the organic matter decomposes. If you choose to till more often, implement the practices listed here with increased frequency or intensity.
- Fallow Farming – Consider placing parts of your garden into fallow with cover crops for extended periods of time (1 year to 5 years). The added organic matter and nurturing elements of cover crops can reduce soil pathogens and restore soil health.
- Compost – Compost and additional organic matter is essential for soil health by adding much needed nutrients and a medium for bacteria and microbes to thrive.
- Cover Cropping –Planting cover crops between your vegetables and throughout the winter not only protects soil from erosion but adds organic matter, nutrients, and benefits the soil microbiome.
- Add Microbes and Bacteria – By creating a compost tea and applying regularly on your garden you can continually supplement the soil with microbes and bacteria.
Resources
How to Make Aerated Compost Tea (Mother Earth News) link updated 7/11/17
Compost Tea (Mother Earth News) link updated 7/11/17
Introduction to Cover Crops for Gardens (HCSWCD) v20170420a
Plant Rotation in the Garden Based on Plant Families (PennState Extension) link updated 7/11/17
Crop Rotation (PennState Extension) link updated 7/11/17
Managing Pests with Healthy Soil (SARE)
Compost Tea (Mother Earth News) link updated 7/11/17
Introduction to Cover Crops for Gardens (HCSWCD) v20170420a
Plant Rotation in the Garden Based on Plant Families (PennState Extension) link updated 7/11/17
Crop Rotation (PennState Extension) link updated 7/11/17
Managing Pests with Healthy Soil (SARE)
Sources
It Takes a Community of Soil Microbes to Protect Plants from Disease (EurekAlert, AAAS) link updated 7/11/17
Soil microbes are the immune system that protects plants, crops from disease (NaturalNews) link updated 7/11/17
Plants Have an Immune System Too. It's Called Soil (Grist) link updated 7/11/17
Scientists Hope to Cultivate an Immune System for Crops (New York Times) link updated 7/11/17
Organic Agriculture: Deeply Rooted in Science and Ecology (Eliot Coleman, Grist) link updated 7/11/17
Soil microbes are the immune system that protects plants, crops from disease (NaturalNews) link updated 7/11/17
Plants Have an Immune System Too. It's Called Soil (Grist) link updated 7/11/17
Scientists Hope to Cultivate an Immune System for Crops (New York Times) link updated 7/11/17
Organic Agriculture: Deeply Rooted in Science and Ecology (Eliot Coleman, Grist) link updated 7/11/17
To learn more, contact Andrew Fritz, Urban Agriculture Conservationist by email ([email protected]).