pdc+++ module 3 class 1 the soil
TRANSCRIPT
M3.1 pdc+++M3.1 pdc+++
We could say that the destructo-culture, based on industrialized agriculture, carries a basic dysfunction, which is to see the soil as an inanimate thing, a resource to be exploited, & even something that can
be seen as 'property' of human beings.This paradigm has to change because it is at the base of great injustices & of the destruction of the most
important base for life on Earth.In this class we meet the soil as a living being, an organism of enormous complexity & importance,
studying how it works in detail, from the microscopic to the global level.To know soil intimately is fundamental for any sustainable design & to have a direct & vital relationship
with this great organism helps us re-connect, physically as well as emotionally, with the Planet.
del
M3.1 SOILAn integral exploration
PDC++ +
Wangari Maathai
"Until you dig a hole, you plant a tree,
you water it and make it survive,
you haven't done a thing. You are just talking."
... and a tree needs
many cubic meters
of soil
rich in
organic matter
and millions of
bugs ...
Kenia, April 1th 1940 - September 25th 2011
M3.1 SOIL
• Geology & Ecology
• Agriculture
• Biology
• History & Culture
• Psychology
• PermaCulture
an integral exploration
according to ...
M3.1 SOIL
• Geology & Ecology
• Agriculture
• Biology
• History & Culture
• Psychology
• PermaCulture
an integral exploration
according to ...
SoilSoilgeologygeology
TypesTypes
TextureTexture
PlantsPlantsSupportSupport
DiversityDiversity
ProfileProfile (layers) (layers)
DrainageDrainage
Water Water absorption andabsorption and
retentionretentionStructureStructure
MineralsMinerals
AcidityAcidity(pH)(pH)
Alteration of the bedrock
How is soil created?
Life
How are soils created?
MagmaticMagmaticEruptionsEruptions
Modeled by Modeled by erosive agentserosive agents
WaterWater
WindWind
Trees andTrees and plantsplants
OrganicOrganicMatterMatter
OMOMCreateCreate
StructureStructure
SedimentationSedimentationInteractionsInteractions
WindWindRiversRivers& Seas& Seas
BedrockBedrock
TemperatureTemperature
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13 oct 2011
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13 oct 2011
Mineral fragments of Mineral fragments of various sizesvarious sizes
Stones > 256 mm Pebbles 64 a 256 mm
Coarse Gravel 4 a 64 mm Fine Gravel 2 a 4 mm Coarse Sand 1 a 2 mm
Sand 0.2 a 2 mm
Finer Sand 0.02 a 0.2 mm
Silt 0.002 a 0.02 mm
Clay < 0.002 mm
Soil physical compositionSoil physical composition
MacroMacropores - aireationpores - aireationMicroMicropores - humidity pores - humidity Silt Clay
Gravel Sand
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Soil Properties by TypeSoil Properties by Type
SandySandy ClayClay CalcareousCalcareousPermeabilityPermeability HighHigh NoneNone mediummedium
Water StorageWater Storage LowLow HighHigh LowLow
AireationAireation GoodGood BadBad GoodGood
Nutrients Nutrients LowLow HighHigh Lots of Lots of CalciumCalcium
ClayClay
SandySandy
retains water and nutrientsretains water and nutrients
many possibilities many possibilities for improvementfor improvement
Lack of oxigenLack of oxigen
ColdColdWarmWarmmore gaseous more gaseous
exchangeexchangerapidrapid
decompositiondecompositionmany macropores, do not retain moisture many macropores, do not retain moisture
nor nutrientsnor nutrients
almost only micropores almost only micropores easily waterloggedeasily waterlogged
A0 Leaf Litter
A superficial (accumulates humus, and materials are washed down into B)
B accumulation of materials that come from A
C1 disaggregated Bedrock
C2 Bedrock
Soil Profiles
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Good to know what we have before starting in Good to know what we have before starting in order to make adjustmentsorder to make adjustments
pHpH
AcidicAcidic BasicBasicNeutralNeutral
The optimum pH for most vegetables is 6.8 (or The optimum pH for most vegetables is 6.8 (or 6 to 7)6 to 7)
pH= - log[H+]
o
pH= log (1/log [H+])
M3.1 SOIL
• Geology & Ecology
• Agriculture
• Biology
• History & Culture
• Psychology
• PermaCulture
an integral exploration
according to ...
Ecology is concerned about the erosion (disappearance) of soils and biodiversity
eg. U.S.A loses more eg. U.S.A loses more than 1,000 tons of than 1,000 tons of
soil / year, equiv. To soil / year, equiv. To 300,000 Has300,000 Has
about 100 million about 100 million hectares are hectares are affected by affected by
chemical chemical degradation and degradation and
saltssalts
It is a huge problemIt is a huge problem
'stable soils' (fertile) in orange - largely under the ice!
“Deserts are the footprint of Civilization”
External Actions Result External Actions Result ResourceResource
Elimination of weed floraElimination of weed flora Excessive and too deep tillageExcessive and too deep tillage None return of Organic MatterNone return of Organic Matter Burning Crop residue Burning Crop residue
OvergrazingOvergrazing Irrigation with brackish waterIrrigation with brackish water Pesticide applicationPesticide application and industrial fertilizersand industrial fertilizers
Excessive and too deep tillageExcessive and too deep tillage None return of organic matterNone return of organic matter Burning crop residue Burning crop residue Pesticide applicationPesticide application and industrial fertilizersand industrial fertilizers
Hydric and EolicHydric and EolicErosionErosion
chemical degradationchemical degradationand salt excessand salt excess
Biological and Physical Biological and Physical degradationdegradation
(elimination of(elimination of beneficial microbial life)beneficial microbial life)
SOILSOIL
Soil ErosionSoil Erosion
WindWind WaterWater
AggresiveAggresiveAgriculturalAgriculturalTechniquesTechniques
Affect more when the soil is exposedAffect more when the soil is exposed
deforestationdeforestation
soil compactionsoil compactionOvergrazingOvergrazing
plaguicidesplaguicidesfertilizersfertilizers
mallow
'Weeds' There is a technical definition (not just
“plants that grow without having been planted"):
of many types they have in common: they produce a lot of biomass, many seeds, prefer (they are “invited by”) anaerobic compacted and poor soils with Nitrogen surges ups and downs
are "volunteers" and are called "Adventitious Flora"
their job is to cover the ground, BRING UP minerals from the sub-soil, HARVEST water and seeds , CREATE BIOMASS to create humus. THEY CREATE SOIL!
'Weeds' = abundant biomass production
M3.1 SOIL
• Geology & Ecology
• Agriculture
• Biology
• History & Culture
• Psychology
• PermaCulture
an integral exploration
according to ...
As plant support- for human use -
attitude of 'mining' the soil (removing and replace nutrients in a repeated annual cycle)
'takers' have a dietary preference for annual plants - particularly cereals (addictive?)
also crops for animals (especially crazy in a sustainability level)
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Considerations How much soil is left, what
type and what minerals have and lacks
whether it is flat or not, sunny or shade, if you have water, good access, climate, etc..
cost and legality of the land (private property or rent, security, markets, etc.).
profitability of the operation
M3.1 SOIL
• Geology & Ecology
• Agriculture
• Biology
• History & Culture
• Psychology
• PermaCulture
an integral exploration
according to ...
A healthy soil is a A healthy soil is a live weblive web
In each gram of In each gram of fertile soil there fertile soil there can be a billion can be a billion
micro-organismsmicro-organisms
The Soil Food Web
Edaphic Edaphic Biomass Biomass
of greatestof greatestimportanceimportance
the roots of plantsthe roots of plants
MacroorganismsMacroorganisms
BacteriaBacteria
FungiFungi
AlgaeAlgae
MicroorganismsMicroorganisms
MycorrizaMycorriza
Details on the functions of each in the Details on the functions of each in the e-Book www.PermaCultureScience.come-Book www.PermaCultureScience.com
Annelids, Arthropods, Molluscs
Lombricus terestris(Worms)
• Plants interchange gases between soil & the atmosphere
• Plants & in particular Trees create soils & protect them
• The Roots of Plants go breaking & fragmenting the Mother rock
• Roots open paths through which water & air will circulate later
• Leaves & Fruit that falls + the deposits of animals who come to feed off them are Organic Matter which is added to the soil
• A Soil covered with vegetation is more protected from external erosive agents
Plants & the SoilPlants & the Soil
Marsh plants showcase their hold in the soil on the banks of Boat Meadow Bay in Eastham, Massachusetts. by Mary Schwalm
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some plants specialize in braking rock
InterdependanceThe Soil is part of the
Digestive System of Plants
Plants are the aerial part of soil
Everything affects everything
Two bugs better than one
Effects of bacteria & bacteria-eating nematodes on the growth of blue grama grass growth
Weed biomasain 77 days
•Are Fungi associated by symbiosis to the Roots of Plants
•These obtain Hydrocarbons & a protected place to live
• in exchange they provide the Plant with a better capacity for absorbtion of Water & Nutrients
• Increase Resistence of the Plant to ...
• pathogens, draught, acid soils
• In some Leguminous plants can increase efficiency of biological fixing of Nitrogen
MycorrizaMycorriza
Actions that destroyMycorriza:
1) dig the soil
2) adding nitrogen
Studies of organic growing with & without mycorrizamore micro-nutrients in those
with mycorriza
Mycorrhizal Fungi
polysaccharides secreted by the plant and fungi bind sand to the root
Endophytes (similar to mycorrhizae)
WormsWorms•• Eat dead vegetable matter which Eat dead vegetable matter which
they degrade into simpler compounds they degrade into simpler compounds > biochemical transformation> biochemical transformation
• • In one He there can be 500 Kg to 2 In one He there can be 500 Kg to 2 Tn of wormsTn of worms
• • There are some 220 different speciesThere are some 220 different species• • They have an effect of activation on They have an effect of activation on
the bacterian metabolismthe bacterian metabolism• • They increase the contribution of They increase the contribution of
Organic Matter Organic Matter • • Diminish with the adding of Diminish with the adding of
AgrochemicalsAgrochemicals
MetabolicMetabolicFunctionFunction
MechanicalMechanicalFunctionFunction
BioDegradationBioDegradation AerationAeration Stimulating Bacterial Stimulating Bacterial ActivityActivity
BiologicalBiologicalFunctionFunction
They take Organic Matterdown into the soil
Reproduction
Increase their food- increase the population
Collect ALL type of biomass & add as mulch to
the soil
& in the DestructoCulture ...
... biomass is thrown in the dump
Worms work at night ...
With Lumbricus terrestrisWithout Lumbricus terrestris
5533
in one hectare there can be as many bacteria = to the weight of one or two cows
& in the forest each of your steps is supported by 120,000 bug legs
Thank them!!
& all keep you alive
M3.1 SOIL
• Geology & Ecology
• Agriculture
• Biology
• History & Culture
• Psychology
• PermaCulture
an integral exploration
according to ...
“the cradle of civilization”
The sumerian civilization, that
rose in the region
approximately in the year 3250
a.C., built a canal system & the
first cities in the world
The half-moon of fertile soil of Mesopotamia
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UnsustainableDevelopment
degraded habitat
"the footprint of civilization are deserts"
"Man .. despite his artistic pretensions & many accomplishments, owes his existence to a thin layer of topsoil ... and the fact that it rains."
agriculture, across the ages hasMINED millenial soils created by forests & grasslands (perennial polycultures)
2,011 d.c.
3,000,000 a.c.
Leavers & Takers (Ismael by Daniel Quinn)
8,000a.c.
Takers
See Class M 1.10
Leavers
eat directly from theperennial polycultures of theirregion (they adapt to 'what there is')
destroy perennial polycultures & replace them by agriculture based in annuals (they eat what 'they like')
perennial polycultures > CREATE soils
Abelhunter gatherer
Cainfarmer
agriculture > CONSUMES soils
The Tree of Good & Evil
"if you eat of this tree you will surely
die"
Eva
= Life
the knowledge of
only the Gods can
eat the fruit of wisdom
... & for it to work
for knowing who shall
live & who shall
die
The Tree of Good & Evil
The Tree of Life
the Law of Life(that fosters biodiversity)
a small branch
is the Law which
permitted us to evolve (as
human beings)
The Tree of Life
& it's the Law we are violating with our way of living(being, thinking..)
& this is the essence of our self-destruction, if we don't change direction DRASTICALLY
The Tree of Life
M3.1 SOIL
• Geology & Ecology
• Agriculture
• Biology
• History & Culture
• Psychology
• PermaCulture
an integral exploration
according to ...
associations "soil"• often as something dirty: dust, dirt, infection (esp.
anglo)
• >> health impacted for NOT having contact with the soil
• "to keep feet on the ground" (1m of cement, in citiees)
• mental, spiritual & physical health - disconnections
• >> all is connected through soil, quite LITERALLY
• radiobiology (sense of place, terrestial magnetism, 'feel at home', migratory animals)
Leavers
Takers
CREATE & ACCEPTgive thanks
CONSUME & FORCEcomplain
Entitlement Pattern
Responsability Pattern
there is a GREATEMOTIONAL conflict
here<<< >>>
eat directly from theperennial polycultures of theirregion (they adapt to 'what there is')
destroy perennial polycultures & replace them by agriculture based in annuals (they eat what 'they like')
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Explore under your feetExplore under your feet
what is difficult?<<< >>>
a support group
might surprise you
Practices"keep your feet on the ground"
history of the soil in your area
(create a children's story)
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on which soil do you find yourself? & what does it
NEED from you?
what does it offer you without
forcing it?
"keep your feet on the ground"
M3.1 SOIL
• Geology & Ecology
• Agriculture
• Biology
• History & Culture
• Psychology
• PermaCulture
an integral exploration
according to ...
UnsustainableDevelopment
degraded habitat
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Regeneration of habitats
=SUSTAINABILITY
P E R M A C U L T U R E
¿Wich is YOURPath to create More soil?
Giles LemeauixMore than 75% of nutrients are accumulated in small branches
Elaine Ingham"Soil Food Web"Researh her job and CollectMULCH with passion!
Especially biomass that is being thrown away, burning,ignoring ...
M3.1 SOIL
• Geology & Ecology
• Agriculture
• Biology
• History & Culture
• Psychology
• PermaCulture
an integral exploration
according to ...
INTEGRATE
all aspects &
>> PRACTICE them!
RE-CREATE soils as if our
lives
depended on
it