Deep, Down and Dirty: The Science of Soil Page #6

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solution, basic straw.

Comparing the two scenarios side

by side reveals a big difference.

Raindrops hit the bare earth with

force and break up the soil.

Run-off water soon begins to flow

and carry the soil away.

But here the large drops are broken

up before they can hit the ground.

It's the straw, not the soil,

that takes the brunt of the impact.

And the run-off is reduced

to a trickle.

By having that canopy it absorbs

all the energy, you don't have

the detachment, you don't have

the run-off and erosion problems.

What's your reaction to the

technology which is now being

deployed in the field?

Well, I suppose as a farmer it

started off as scepticism,

you know, here's a chap from the

university. Yes, he can solve

civil engineering problems,

mining quarrying problems, but

this is farming.

And so it's taken a little while,

I think, hasn't it, Rob?

You've worked on me, you've shown me

that it works. Now that's starting

to snowball. That's going out to

other farmers and I think that

in 10 years' time the sort of things

were doing now

will become standard practice

and frankly to not do them will

become unacceptable.

We have to look after the soil,

it's a valuable resource.

To me, it's astonishing that

a potentially huge threat to soil

can be averted using

something as low-tech as straw.

All it needs is a little thought

and a willingness to change.

I believe these are vital if we're

to avoid the mistakes of our past

and preserve this most precious of

resources.

And research like this

and the commitment of farmers

like John give me

hope that we'll achieve that.

So, whilst we have a chequered

history when it comes to our

relationship with soil,

it does seem at last we're beginning

to understand and

appreciate what an amazing substance

it is.

'Exploring soil, we've uncovered the

secrets of its life-giving force.'

We've revealed an intricate living

system, where life meets rock

at the microscopic scale.

Each acting on the other in complex

and surprising ways to form what

to me is, without doubt,

the most fascinating and important

material on the face of the planet.

So the next time you

walk on the grass

give a nod of thanks to the

hidden rainforest beneath your feet.

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