There are indicators that will tell us the health of the soil. The key to healthy and productive plants is the soil. Here are some indicators that you can use.
#1 The Look, Feel and Smell of the Soil
Healthy soil will look rich & healthy. Dark with Organic matter & Humus. Healthy soil will feel good in your hand, crumbly & friable. Not too loose or too tight. Healthy soil will smell sweet, kind of like chocolate because of microorganism activity.
#2 Earthworms
Healthy soil will have 10 Earthworms or more per square foot. Without Earthworms you do not have healthy soil, at the most you will have is an artificial growing medium in which the plants can only live through constant chemical inputs. A Paradox, consistent use of chemicals kills Earthworms.
#3 Microbial Count
Healthy soils will have a Microbe count of 500-800 million per gram of soil. Soils that are near sterile conditions will have a count of 4 million microbes per gram. When you have healthy Microbe counts you have more productive plants with less cost. Organics give you that healthy soil.
