How will we know the soil is recovering?

Recovery appears in soil life, water absorption and the roots soil can support. Baseline and repeated measurements track these functions after intervention.

Start with life

Ingham’s approach uses food web observation as a core tool. Soil Food Web School microscopy identifies and quantitatively estimates bacteria, fungi, protozoa and nematodes. Baselines and consistent preparation allow changes after compost, extract or tea to be followed alongside crop needs and conditions.

Observe the grove

Before sampling, examine infiltration after rain, ponding, soil movement, root depth, aggregates versus hard clods, cover and earthworms. Kathleen Groppe’s School guidance connects field observation with appropriate test selection.

Water and structure

Infiltration tests measure entry speed; slake tests examine aggregate stability in water. Penetration resistance helps find compacted layers. Record moisture: dry soil resists penetration more, so comparisons require similar conditions.

Laboratory complements

pH, organic matter, conductivity and nutrients describe different properties. Biomass, respiration and enzyme activity add biological information. Select tests for the question: nutrition, compaction, water or food web activity.

Keep comparisons consistent

Define areas, depths, season and method. Record rain, irrigation, tillage and applications. Compare with baseline and equivalent untreated sections. Standardisation helps assess changes within a management system.

Repeated improvement in intended functions, such as infiltration, root-supporting structure and a functioning web, documents recovery. Combined findings guide subsequent applications.

Our field work

We plan baselines, repeated microscopy and selected field measurements following Soil Food Web principles.

Sources and further reading

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