Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

HOW TO enhance soil biodiversity

HERE ARE SOME KEY DRIVERS OF SOIL BIODIVERSITY LOSS. THESE ARE CLOSELY LINKED TO THE OTHER THREATS TO OUR SOILS. YOU MIGHT RECOGNIZE SOME OF THEM FROM OTHER POSTERS.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO CONSERVE THIS PRECIOUS RESOURCE? HERE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT CAN BE DONE. BUT THERE CAN BE LOCAL SOLUTIONS THAT THE SOIL DOCTOR IN YOUR COMMUNITY WILL TELL YOU ABOUT.

Practices to Enhance Soil Biodiversity

• Creating uncultivated patches of vegetation and enhance diversity using native species, as appropriate.

• Diversifying farming systems and the results foodresources and habitats of soil organisms through agroecological approaches (crop rotation, intercropping, agroforestry etc.).

• Manage the use of fire and fire control measures.

• Minimize soil disturbance (tillage).

• Using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to reduce the use of pesticides.

• Preserving natural refuges for soil organisms, pollinators and above ground biodiversity.

• Using N fixing species (legumes) to reduce need for N fertilizer inputs.

• Enhance and maintain soil organic matter content (cover crops, mulching etc.).