7 ms·
Topsoil erosion would be a massive problem.
by TrevorJ 11y ago
Topsoil erosion would be a massive problem.
- hga 11y agoThat's something you start worrying about after you make sure no one is likely to starve, it can most likely wait a couple of years.
- TrevorJ 11y agoActually, it's something you worry about now if you don't want people to starve.
- hga 11y agoThis discussion is in the context of a sudden failure of a variety of crops, e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Death_of_Grass https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Death_of_Grass In that context, for a couple or so of years you don't worry about soil erosion, except to avoid a repeat of the Dust Bowl, you worry about people not starving. Before AKA "now", and after the emergency period, yes, you worry about it, as we do now.
- schiffern 11y agoTopsoil erosion is already a massive problem.[1] So far we've been able to mask the damage by substituting fossil fuel inputs for soil fertility, but realistically soil husbandry is the only sustainable way to grow food. Heck, many people nowadays aren't even aware that soil organisms can manufacture bio-available nutrients from local minerals and the air.[2] The dominant view of soil seems to be as an inert tank that needs to be "refilled" with imported fertility. [1] http://www.fao.org/docrep/t0389e/t0389e02.htm http://www.fao.org/docrep/t0389e/t0389e02.htm [2] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2H60ritjag http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2H60ritjag