Why Poor Quality Soil Is Hurting People Like Us Living On A Plant-Based Diet

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The other day I was watching a movie called “The Need To GROW”. It talked about the quickly deteriorating quality of soil levels (especially in the United States), how this is impacting our health, and what we can do to ensure our plant-based food remains high-quality.

To be honest, I had never really thought about soil quality as an issue before, but after watching I realized that spreading more awareness about the increasingly lower quality of our soil (and with it, the increasingly lower quality of the foods we eat), is important.

I’ll put the video trailer right below. If you want to watch this movie for yourself (it’s not on Netflix) you can use this link to sign up and get access right away: click here to watch “The Need To GROW”

What is Soil Quality?

Soil quality refers to the capacity of soil to function effectively within ecosystem boundaries. It includes its ability to sustain plant and animal productivity, maintain or enhance water and air quality, and support human health. Good soil quality relies on factors like soil texture, structure, and nutrient content.

Soil is often assessed by testing for organic matter, pH levels, and the presence of essential minerals like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (in other words, important minerals that end up in your food). Effective soil management includes practices like crop rotation, cover cropping, and reduced tillage to maintain or improve soil health. Without these practices, soil quality can decline, leading to erosion, nutrient depletion, and reduced plant growth.

Reasons For Declining Soil Quality

Soil quality is taking a hit for a bunch of reasons, many of which are tied to how we treat the land. First off, modern farming practices are a big culprit. Using too many chemical fertilizers and pesticides messes with the natural soil ecosystem, making it less fertile over time. Growing the same crop year after year, known as monocropping, also drains specific nutrients from the soil without giving it a chance to recover, leading to erosion and poorer soil health.

Deforestation is another major issue. Trees and plants help keep the soil in place, so when we clear forests for farming or building, the soil gets exposed. Rain washes away the nutrient-rich top layer, leaving behind less fertile ground. Plus, cutting down trees reduces the organic carbon in the soil, which is crucial for keeping it healthy.

Urban sprawl and industrial activities don’t help either. Building cities and roads covers the land with concrete and asphalt, which stops water from soaking into the ground and leads to more runoff and erosion. Factories can also dump heavy metals and other pollutants into the soil, making it toxic and useless for growing crops. These pollutants stick around for a long time, causing ongoing environmental and health issues.

Climate change is another piece of the puzzle. Shifts in weather patterns affect soil moisture and lead to more extreme weather like droughts and floods. Droughts dry out the soil, making it hard for plants to grow and increasing erosion risks. Heavy rains can wash away essential nutrients, leaving the soil less fertile. The effects of climate change on soil are complex and vary depending on the area.

Lastly, overgrazing by livestock is a problem. When animals eat too much grass, they strip away the vegetation that protects the soil. This not only reduces the organic matter in the soil but also leads to compaction and erosion.

The Effect Of Soil Quality On Plant-Based Diets

Poor soil quality can lead to crops with reduced nutrient content, directly affecting your health. Without nutrient-rich soil, even the healthiest diet can fall short of providing essential vitamins and minerals. This can result in deficiencies that impact your energy levels, immune system, and overall well-being.

Consider the fact that soil depletion has resulted in significant drops in nutrient levels over the past decades. For instance, studies have shown that vegetables can contain up to 40% fewer nutrients than they did 50 years ago (source). As you rely on these plants for your dietary needs, the impact is even more substantial.

When soil lacks essential nutrients, the plants grown in that soil are less nutritious. For example, plants grown in nutrient-poor soil are often deficient in vital minerals like magnesium, iron, and zinc. Data shows that soil degradation leads to a significant reduction in crop yields and quality (source).

Research notes that soil degradation is a contributing factor to the global decline in dietary quality (source). Moreover, poor soil conditions lead to crops that are less able to support human health, exacerbating the problem of malnutrition. For instance, iron deficiency can cause anemia, while low magnesium levels are linked to cardiovascular issues.

Understanding the challenges posed by poor-quality soil can help you make more informed choices about the food you consume. It highlights the importance of sourcing your produce from farms that prioritize soil health and sustainability.

Adopting Sustainable Practices for Soil Improvement

Improving soil quality is crucial for maintaining a healthy plant-based diet. By focusing on organic farming techniques and effective home gardening strategies, you can enrich the soil and boost its productivity.

Organic Farming Techniques

Organic farming techniques emphasize natural processes to maintain soil health. Using composting is essential. You can recycle kitchen waste and yard debris into nutrient-rich compost that boosts soil structure and microorganisms. A study from Springer highlights that organic compost improves soil fertility and supports plant growth by increasing nutrient availability (source).

Cover cropping is another effective method. Planting cover crops like clover or legumes helps in nitrogen fixation, which naturally enriches the soil without synthetic fertilizers. According to NIEHS, such practices reduce soil erosion and enhance water retention, critical for plant-based diets (source). Additionally, crop rotation involves alternating different crops in the same area to prevent soil depletion and manage pest populations sustainably.

Home Gardening and Soil Management

For home gardeners, soil management starts with testing soil pH and nutrient levels. A balanced soil pH (ideally between 6.0 to 7.0) ensures plants absorb nutrients more efficiently. Utilizing biochar, a form of charcoal, can improve soil’s water-holding capacity and boost microbial activity, as reported in ScienceDirect (source).

Mulching helps retain soil moisture and regulate temperature. Organic mulches like straw or wood chips break down over time, adding organic matter to the soil. This practice not only conserves water but also enhances soil fertility. Lastly, implementing companion planting—growing certain plants together that benefit each other—can deter pests and improve soil health, leading to more robust plant growth and yield.

Incorporating these sustainable practices into your gardening routine can lead to a significant improvement in soil quality, ensuring your plant-based diet is supported by healthy, nutrient-rich soil.

Want to learn more about the quality of soil and what we can do to improve it? The movie I mentioned earlier has all the information: click here to watch “The Need To GROW”

Stefan K.

Stefan has been vegan since 2019 and has been regularly working on his strength since the beginning of 2023. He’s on a mission to help other vegans get stronger and have all of them achieve the quality of life they deserve.