4 ms·
These topsoil crisis stories have been running since the 1930s, and are still nonsense. Modern farming doesn't depend on soil nutrients. The soil is tested, the
by CapitalistCartr 6y ago
These topsoil crisis stories have been running since the 1930s, and are still nonsense. Modern farming doesn't depend on soil nutrients. The soil is tested, then minerals and petrochemical fertilizers are added. The soil is basically a growing medium.
- merpnderp 6y agoFunny because when I saw the headline it reminded me of the same crisis in the 80’s that never came to pass. I sometimes wonder if these crisis stories are just written by journalists he need to meet their clickbate quota for the week in this Google Adsense driven industry… naaaaa
- milkytron 6y agoWasn't the dust bowl caused by topsoil degradation? That seemed like a very substantial crises for wide swaths of the country's population.
- searine 6y ago>Wasn't the dust bowl caused by topsoil degradation? No. It was caused by extensive deep tillage as method of pest control. We have better tools and methods now.
- sp332 6y agoIt was caused by lack of cover plants. Farms are using cover crops like ryegrass more because it helps keep water in the soil better.
- Edman274 6y ago"These topsoil crisis stories have been running ever since that time that topsoil crisis killed thousands and caused widespread food insecurity. Utter hogwash. Well, it would be hogwash if any of the hogs had anything to eat."
- maxerickson 6y agoThe chemical fertilizer revolution happened in the 1950s. (which didn't disconnect productivity from soil condition, but it loosened the relationship)
- CapitalistCartr 6y agoThat is a different issue, a serious one. The claimed problem here is that farming relies on topsoil, which is not correct. Our factory farming doesn't rely on topsoil nutrients to feed the crops. Our current farming methods leave a lot to be desired.
- worik 6y agoThat is the problem in a nutshell
- tastyfreeze 6y ago> The soil is basically a growing medium. This is absolutely false and is the idea that got us to where we are today with heavy tillage, fertilizer application and biocide application. Those practices are demonstrably destroying our environment and are wholly unnecessary.