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Complex soil ecosystem

Healthy, fertile soil is essential for the survival of humans and nature. However, this resource is limited and is nowadays heavily influenced by human intervention. To protect the climate and feed the world, it is important to use this valuable resource sustainably.

How is soil structured?

Soil is a complex ecosystem and a habitat with great biodiversity. It consists of water, air, minerals and organic matter. Part of the organic matter is made up of soil organisms. They are responsible for building and maintaining the soil by breaking down and transforming dead material.

This place is teeming with soil life

If the soil is intact, around 15 tons of soil organisms live under one hectare of land.
The largest proportion in the uppermost soil layers consists of bacteria, fungi, algae, threadworms, springtails, mites, small annelids, millipedes, dipteran larvae, beetle larvae, earthworms, spiders and woodlice. This biodiversity must be preserved, as soil organisms work together to ensure fertile and intact soil.

Excessive use of pesticides is bad for the soil

Nowadays, the soil habitat is exposed to considerable negative effects due to the use of chemical pesticides:

- When chemical agents kill not only pests but also beneficial soil organisms, biodiversity declines.

- The biological balance and thus the effective cooperation of soil organisms is disturbed if resistant or less sensitive soil organisms are able to proliferate.

- The availability of nutrients for plants is reduced if nitrogen-fixing bacteria or symbiotic fungi in the soil are affected by chemical agents.

- Chemical residues lead to soil and water pollution with far-reaching consequences

- More and more frequently, pest populations are developing resistance, which leads to the use of additional chemical agents.

Beneficial nematodes

It is far cheaper and more sensible to prevent further damage to soils than to restore their vital functions at great expense. Our beneficial nematodes contribute to this, as they can replace a large number of chemical insecticides.

The nematode species we produce are themselves native soil organisms and are natural enemies of many soil-dwelling pests such as grubs or the larvae of fungus gnats and weevils. They can keep these pests in check without harming other organisms.

They have no toxic side effects, leave no chemical residues and are themselves biodegradable, and resistance developments in pests have not yet been observed when using nematodes.

Conclusion

Soil-improving measures must be specifically promoted in order to keep the soil healthy and for future generations.
Reducing the use of chemical pesticides, promoting integrated pest control methods and using biodegradable products could help to minimize the negative impact on soil as a valuable resource.