Why soil is one of the most amazing things on Earth | BBC Ideas

BBC Ideas
28 Jan 202104:40
EducationalLearning
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TLDRThis transcript unveils the wonders of soil, a vastly underrated and little-understood marvel of our planet. It reveals that a single gram of soil can harbor up to 50,000 microscopic species, and a teaspoon contains more organisms than people on Earth. Soil is an invaluable source of antibiotics and medicinal compounds, yet we've only identified a tiny fraction of its extraordinary life. The narrator emphasizes the vital role of soil in sustaining life, from the intricate symbiotic relationships between plants and fungi to its ability to store vast amounts of carbon. However, intensive farming and urbanization are rapidly depleting and degrading this precious resource, highlighting the urgent need to champion and protect soil for its innumerable benefits and untapped potential.

Takeaways
  • 🌱 Soil is teeming with microscopic life, with up to 50,000 species in a single gram, and more microorganisms in a teaspoon than there are people on Earth.
  • 💊 Antibiotics and many other medicines are derived from compounds produced by soil microorganisms to compete with their neighbors.
  • 🪱 Earthworms play a crucial role in creating and sustaining soil, allowing plant roots to grow and keeping soil alive.
  • 🍄 Plants and fungi have a mutually beneficial relationship, trading carbon and nutrients to thrive.
  • ⏳ It takes over 100 years to build just 5 millimeters of soil, but it can be destroyed in moments through various threats.
  • 🗺️ Some soil is ancient, with the oldest on Earth dating back 3 billion years in South Africa, and the UK's soil is around 15,000 years old.
  • 🌳 Soil stores three times as much carbon as all the plants on Earth combined, making it a crucial carbon sink.
  • ⚠️ Intensive farming and other human activities are causing soil degradation and carbon loss at alarming rates.
  • 📉 In the UK, more than 10% of soil carbon was lost in less than 30 years from the end of the 1970s.
  • 🛡️ Despite its vital importance, soil lacks enough champions and proper protection, often being treated as mere dirt.
Q & A

  • What is the estimated number of microscopic organisms in a single gram of soil?

    -It's estimated that in a single gram of soil, there could be as many as 50,000 species of microscopic organisms or microorganisms.

  • What is the significance of microorganisms in soil in relation to antibiotics?

    -Millions of years of evolutionary competition have led the microorganisms to produce antibiotic compounds to fight their neighbors. These compounds form the basis of many of the antibiotics used by humans.

  • What did Charles Darwin say about the importance of earthworms?

    -Darwin said: "It may be doubted if there are any other animals, which have played such an important part, in the history of the world," due to their importance in making and sustaining soil.

  • How do earthworms contribute to soil health?

    -Earthworms journey down and around, creating breathing holes, like lungs in the soil. This creates space for plant roots to grow and keeps soil alive.

  • What is the mutually beneficial relationship between plants and fungi in the soil?

    -Plants give fungi carbon to grow, and fungi give plants nutrients, like nitrogen and phosphorus. Fungi can't capture carbon dioxide to grow like plants can, but they're better than plants at mining the soil for nutrients, so they trade.

  • How long does it take to build 5 millimeters of soil?

    -It takes more than 100 years to build just 5 millimeters (half a centimetre) of soil.

  • What is the oldest soil on Earth and how old is it?

    -The oldest soil on Earth is thought to be in South Africa, and dates back three billion years.

  • How does soil act as a carbon store?

    -Soil is a really valuable carbon store, capturing carbon and locking it away in stable forms, deep underground. It stores three times as much carbon as all the plants on Earth combined, including trees.

  • What is one of the major threats to soil health?

    -Intensive farming is one of the major threats to soil health. It releases carbon from our soils, and we're losing soil 50 to 100 times faster than it's able to re-build.

  • Why is soil considered an underrated and little-understood wonder on our planet?

    -Despite being literally under our feet and providing invaluable roles, such as filtering and cleaning our waters, reducing flooding, regulating our atmosphere, and being one of the most biodiverse habitats on Earth, soil hasn't enough champions fighting for it, and there is so much untapped potential and secrets waiting to be discovered in the ground beneath our feet.

Outlines
00:00
🌎 The Marvel of Soil: Earth's Hidden Universe

This paragraph introduces the incredible diversity and significance of soil, which harbors a vast array of microscopic organisms and plays a crucial role in sustaining life on our planet. It highlights the importance of soil microorganisms in producing antibiotic compounds, the vital role of earthworms in soil formation and aeration, and the symbiotic relationship between plants and fungi facilitated by soil. The paragraph emphasizes the interconnected ecosystem we are part of and the importance of valuing, appreciating, and protecting soil.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Microorganisms
Microorganisms refer to microscopic living organisms that exist in soil. The script highlights that a single gram of soil can contain up to 50,000 species of these tiny creatures. They play a vital role in the soil ecosystem, contributing to processes like decomposition and nutrient cycling. The script emphasizes the vast diversity of microorganisms present in soil, describing it as a 'hidden and deep universe' that is still largely unexplored.
💡Antibiotics
Antibiotics are medicines used to treat bacterial infections. The script explains that many antibiotics used by humans are derived from compounds produced by soil microorganisms. These compounds are a result of 'millions of years of evolutionary competition' among microorganisms, as they developed these antibiotic substances to fight off their neighbors in the soil ecosystem. This highlights the medicinal value of soil and the potential for discovering new treatments from the vast, unexplored diversity of soil life.
💡Earthworms
Earthworms are described as one of the most 'special creatures' living in soil. The script quotes Charles Darwin, who recognized the importance of earthworms in creating and sustaining soil. Earthworms burrow through the soil, creating tunnels and breathing holes that allow air and water to circulate, facilitating plant growth. They play a crucial role in maintaining the health and fertility of soil.
💡Fungi
The script highlights the intricate relationship between fungi and plants in the soil ecosystem. Fungi form vast networks of threads in the soil and engage in a mutually beneficial relationship with plants. Plants provide fungi with carbon dioxide for growth, while fungi help plants access nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus from the soil. This symbiotic relationship exemplifies the interconnectedness of the soil ecosystem.
💡Soil Formation
The script emphasizes the slow and precious nature of soil formation. It takes more than 100 years to form just 5 millimeters of soil, yet it can be destroyed quickly through various human activities like urbanization, erosion, and chemical contamination. Some soils are ancient, dating back millions of years, underscoring the importance of protecting this valuable resource.
💡Carbon Store
Soil is described as a valuable carbon store, capturing and locking away carbon in stable forms deep underground. The script states that soil stores three times as much carbon as all the plants on Earth combined, including trees. This highlights the crucial role of soil in regulating the carbon cycle and mitigating climate change.
💡Intensive Farming
Intensive farming practices are identified as a major threat to soil health. The script explains that intensive farming releases carbon from soils and leads to soil degradation at a rate 50 to 100 times faster than it can be rebuilt. This unsustainable practice has resulted in significant soil loss and depletion of soil carbon in regions like Europe and the UK.
💡Biodiversity
The script emphasizes the incredible biodiversity present in soil, describing it as 'one of the most biodiverse habitats on Earth.' This diversity encompasses a wide range of organisms, from microscopic microbes to larger creatures like earthworms. Preserving this biodiversity is crucial for maintaining the intricate and interconnected soil ecosystem.
💡Nitrogen and Carbon Cycles
Soil plays a vital role in the nitrogen and carbon cycles on our planet. The script mentions that soil is an essential part of these cycles, which regulate atmospheric composition and nutrient availability for plant growth. The interactions between soil organisms, plants, and the environment contribute to the cycling of these essential elements.
💡Soil Protection
The script emphasizes the need for better protection and regulation of soil resources. It laments the lack of 'champions fighting for' soil conservation and the lack of data and monitoring efforts in many countries. Soil is described as a precious and underappreciated resource that provides numerous ecosystem services, yet it is often treated with neglect or exploited unsustainably.
Highlights

In a single gram of soil, there could be as many as 50,000 species of microscopic organisms, or microorganisms.

In one teaspoon of soil, there are more microorganisms than there are people on the Earth.

Millions of years of evolutionary competition have led the microorganisms to produce antibiotic compounds, which form the basis of many antibiotics used by humans.

Earthworms play a crucial role in making and sustaining soil, creating breathing holes and space for plant roots to grow.

Plants and fungi have a mutually beneficial relationship, where fungi provide plants with nutrients in exchange for carbon.

It takes more than 100 years to build just 5 millimetres of soil, but moments to destroy it through various means.

The oldest soil on Earth is thought to be in South Africa, dating back three billion years.

Soil is a valuable carbon store, capturing three times as much carbon as all the plants on Earth combined.

Intensive farming is releasing carbon from our soils, and we're losing soil 50 to 100 times faster than it's able to re-build.

In Europe, 60-70% of soils are thought to be unhealthy.

In croplands in the UK, we lost more than 10% of the carbon the soil had stored for us in less than 30 years from the end of the 1970s.

Many countries have little data on soil, and it's poorly protected and regulated.

Soil filters and cleans our waters, reduces flooding, and regulates our atmosphere.

Soil is one of the most biodiverse habitats on Earth and a vital part of the nitrogen and carbon cycle on our planet.

Despite its importance, soil doesn't have enough champions fighting for it, and we treat it like dirt.

Transcripts

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