How to feed your soil (food web)

Recently found these sites that explain the soil food web and soil fertility in detail.

Soil Food Web http://www.soilfoodweb.com/sfi_approach1.html This site explains how to 'feed' soil organisms for a balanced soil food web. In turn, this will allow for optimum fertility and disease suppression. Organic matter needs to be diverse to adequately maintain both bacteria and fungi populations and keep them in balance.

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education http://www.sare.org/publications/covercrops/index.shtml An online book with tons of information on cover crops. It is really for small farms, yet much of it can be applied to the backyard gardener. One important thing I learned from reading a few chapters is how important root systems are to maintaining soil fertility. The ground should never be left bare to prevent nutrient leaching. Close plantings and intercropping are a must to sustain a diverse soil community that will provide a wide range of nutrients for plants.

Soil Secrets http://www.soilsecrets.com/Soil%20Ecology%20and%20the%20Soil%20Food%20Web.pdf Also, about the soil food web. Simplier explainations and more condensed than Soil Food Web. There is some information how chemical inputs relate to soil health.

Thanks for the links. I'm sure there's lots of good reading there. I like that point about 'organic matter needs to be diverse'..and the one about close planting--weeds will take up any extra space if given a chance anyway.

Sallyg, here is another link from ATTRA about soil management http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/soilmgmt.pdf It goes into detail about soil structure and proper tillage. The article has a long list of additional sources at the end. The ATTRA website is also a very good resource for sustainable practices.

These articles and e-books are heavy on information. So, take your time.

All this reading has made me understand in more detail what I have read and heard from other sources. Along with the post on synergistic gardening and online vids about permaculture and forest gardens, I am inspired to change my gardening methods. The ability to have large yields with less work and low inputs is very intriguing.

Thanks, I have read ATTRA when researching something in the past.
Yes your last sentence--sounds great!

I am about half way through reading soilfoodweb. I never realized how important protoza and nematodes are to nitrogen release. Bacteria and fungi have to be consumed by predators to release their nutrients. Its comforting to know that when microanthrops like earthworms are present that everything is pretty much in balance in the soil.

Was able to read most of the ATTRA article. It real explains the importance of soil structure, how to obtain and maintain it. Did not realize that most organic material (about 99%) can be burned out in 19 days with deep (moldboard and disking) tilling. I'm really convinced that I should try to till as little as possible and keep my ground covered here. Being in a warm climate - soil rarely drops below 50 degrees - we are the most susceptible to nutrient loss to fast decomposition. According to the article, some 50-75% of the productivity loss due is due to erosion. I know that figure is based on modern farms, but I feel that it can also apply to gardeners.