Article that summarises research studies in the 1920-30s.
Organic matter may well be considered as fuel for bacterial fires in the soil, which operates as a factory producing plant nutrients. The organic matter is burned to carbon dioxide, ash, and other residues. This provides carbonic acid in the soil water, and the solvent effect of this acidified water on calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphates, and other minerals in rock form is many hundreds of times greater than that of rain water.
When measured in terms of carbon dioxide output, the soil is a live, active body.
Regardless of the presence or absence of a crop, the failure to add organic matter and regular tillage of the soil mean a depletion of the original stock of organic matter at a very significant rate, even where there is no erosion. Where erosion removes the body of the surface soil itself, the rate of depletion is much greater.
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