How planting trees helps to stabilize soil
Trees play an important role in giving us oxygen, storing carbon, providing shelter, and stabilizing soil. Planting trees restore land damage and reduce soil erosion by putting soil in place, which also improves overall soil quality. Soil erosion is harmful and costly as it can lead to an increase in the amount of sediments in rivers, which damages marine life, impairs drinking water and is difficult to remove. Additionally, eroded soil can deteriorate the soil quality which will make it difficult for plants to grow and survive.
Preventing soil erosion
Many studies have highlighted the importance of trees as a natural protection against soil erosion. Trees play a role in helping to reduce soil erosion by their structure, root systems and foliage. Since trees in the forest can grow up to 100 meters, they provide plenty of shade and help to retain moisture, which acts as a barrier that prevents rain and water from coming into contact with the soil. This reduces the chance of the soil dissolving in the water and therefore decreases the chance of soil erosion.
The foliage of trees also reduces the impact of the water hitting the ground and the soil. Rain water captured by tree foliage is channeled through the trunk of the tree until it hits the ground and penetrates the soil rather than washing over it.
Another method in which trees help prevent soil erosion is through the root system. Tree roots are able to expand and penetrate through the soil far beyond the reach of the branches. These roots hold the soil in place and drastically improve the drainage of soil by preventing soil compaction, which allows water to travel through the ground surface rather than flowing over the surface of the ground.
Improving soil quality
Trees are known to be the best solution for soil fertility. Planting trees maintains and improves the fertility of the land. Trees can maximize the soil’s ability to absorb and retain water. Deeper layers under the ground contain enormous amounts of nutrients that trees can recycle by pulling the decomposed litter up to the surface and support soil formation. Trees can also capture nutrients from the atmosphere, which is also a great source of tree fertilizer.
Additionally, trees provide a source of nutrients for plants and crops to grow in. The integration of trees and crops can therefore improve the quality and availability of nutrients in the soil. Researchers indicate that crop production increased by more than 200% and two-thirds of cases where crops are grown together with trees when compared to farms where only crops are cultivated. The amount of water that soil can hold is significantly increased when the soil’s organic content rises. The soil can collect 60,000 liters more for each acre, for every 1 percent increase in the soil organic content.
Planting trees has become a significant solution for reducing soil erosion and improving the quality of the soil. Trees also play a large role in supporting soil fertility as they optimize the water absorption and water retainment capabilities of soil, plus capturing nutrients from both the atmosphere and deep in the ground to ultimately improve the land in which they are grown on.