Article: The Meaning of the Land

The Meaning of the Land

We talk a lot about the soil. As vintners working with biodynamic methods, this topic occupies us greatly. And yet, as time passes, and the more I observe and listen, the more I realize what a wondrous entity the soil is and how easily we take it for granted.

By Yuval Erlich Nitzan

One can look at the soil from various angles and through different prisms. The first angle through which most people involved in agriculture examine the soil is through its physical structure - what the soil is composed of.

So let's get on the same page -
Soil begins as a collection of minerals. Rocks finely ground by millions of years of pressure and erosion provide the foundation. These minerals vary from place to place - in some areas, these will be rocks of volcanic origin, others will be sedimentary rocks, and in some places, sand is the primary basis for the soil. Soil tests will tell us which minerals are present in the soil - nitrogen, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, and more…

But minerals are only the skeleton upon which living soil is built. The component I find most interesting, most vital for plant health, and the one over which we have the greatest influence, is the living component in the soil.

We are talking about millions of different organisms, most of them microscopic, that turn the soil into a living medium where plants can grow. Together, they create what is called 'the soil food web' - a network of relationships that breaks down and builds, feeds and nourishes itself. A single spoonful of healthy soil can contain 15,000 species of bacteria alone, not to mention other life forms, and more bacteria than there are people on earth! And who are these organisms? When we say "soil microbiology," who are we actually talking about? Bacteria, of course, but also fungi, protozoa, nematodes, and tiny arthropods.

The soil food web is complex and fed by organic matter like decaying plants, animals, and microbes, as well as nutrients released from plant roots. Organic matter is digested by bacteria, fungi, and other life forms, which in turn are eaten by worms, insects, and spiders. Finally, larger animals like mice and voles living in the soil eat the insects.
All living creatures need food and strive to grow and reproduce. As a result of feeding, reproduction, and mortality processes, additional nutrients are released, and the soil structure continues to develop.

* Want to know more about these creatures? At the end of the article, there is a glossary explaining each creature.

Meanwhile, this diagram can help.

The analytical perspective, which sends a soil sample for laboratory testing and examines its mineral structure, is just one way to view the soil. This approach is practical, important, and very interesting. But to understand the significance of soil within the living world, one might look for additional perspectives.

The biodynamic perspective attempts to see the complete picture. The entire world, according to this view, is a living, pulsating system of connections. The earth itself is perceived as a living organism.

Plants emerge from this organism, and it is difficult to precisely separate where the root ends and the soil begins. Therefore, observing the living components in a plot of land can provide us with broad and essential information. A microscopic examination of a soil sample will show us the diversity of microscopic life in the soil, and a chromatography test will give us a fascinating picture of the living forces within the soil.

Steiner identified a weakening of the life force in the soil with the introduction of chemical practices in agriculture in the early 20th century. He gave the famous series of lectures on agriculture to provide the knowledge and tools to restore that force to the soil. That same soil from which the plants grow that we and our animals feed on. Nutrition that affects us not only physically but also our spirit and soul. The same weakening he identified in the soil, he also identified in the human spirit, connecting these phenomena.

From this holistic view, biodynamic agriculture places significant emphasis on building living soil, with the understanding that the soil and the life within it are part of a vast web, built from the smallest bacteria through larger creatures, all the way to the moon, planets, and the entire universe. The parts of the web influence and are influenced by each other, and to understand one part, one must grasp the complete picture.

Some biodynamic practices are very simple to understand, others are more difficult to grasp. One needs to delve deep into them and let go a little of the Western intellect with which we are accustomed to perceiving reality.
It starts with practices of preserving biodiversity and preventing erosion, practices that have even been adopted by conventional sustainable agriculture. The biodynamic standard dedicates an entire chapter to this topic.
It continues with the use of biodynamic compost as the primary fertilizer (compost is a broad topic that we will delve into later). In addition, biodynamic preparations are applied, which work at a homeopathic level and support life processes at various levels.

In short, these are the preparations that act on the soil:

Preparation 500 (Horn Manure) - The first basic preparation. It is very rich in essential microorganisms on one hand, and energetic life forces on the other. It accelerates humus formation, helps root system development, and balances the decomposing energy coming from the cosmos.

Preparation CPP or 'Concentrated Compost' - developed by Maria Thun. As its name suggests, it is a concentrated biodynamic compost that contains the six compost preparations and is applied to the soil by spraying, sometimes in addition to preparation 500 and sometimes separately. It is also rich in microorganisms but also contains the six compost preparations 502 to 507. This preparation is intended to bring the effect of the compost preparations to areas where the application of classic biodynamic compost is too operationally complex.

Preparation 500P - a later development by Alex Podolinsky. This preparation combines preparation 500 with the compost preparations and is also intended to bring its effect to large areas without the need for spreading classic compost.

In the picture - Preparation 500 at the moment it is removed from the soil and from the cow horn in the Hareshim vineyard.

In the world of wine, great importance is attributed to the soil. The connection between wine and the soil it grows on has been recognized for hundreds and thousands of years, but not necessarily in its full extent. The term 'terroir' primarily refers to the geological structure of the soil, and indeed, various wine regions boast complex geological structures in their soils - limestone soil, volcanic soil, combinations of sand with flint and clay, and much more. A lot of weight is given to the type of soil, and rightly so. To this, air directions, altitude, slope, proximity to a water source, and more are added.

But the living part of the soil is hardly discussed. In many cases, it is even actively harmed, which is a shame.
Because if a mineral structure is unique to a place, then a biological texture is exponentially more unique. It is influenced by a combination of minerals and the various plants growing in it, and also changes from year to year depending on the weather. Its influence on the vine is immense and therefore also on the taste of the wine.

But more than anything, beyond taste, originality, and the quality of the wine, which are positively affected by living and healthy soil - the word 'responsibility' plays a central role here. Especially today, in an era of global warming, climate crisis, and cross-continental pandemics, a heavy responsibility rests on farmers. A large part of the Earth's surface is entrusted to us; it is our responsibility to leave the soil in these areas alive and healthy, with as wide a biological diversity as possible.

The good news is that we have the ability to restore it to this state. According to many studies, if soil conservation practices are implemented on agricultural lands on a large scale, the climate crisis can actually be halted.

Carbon dioxide will return from the atmosphere into the soil through the living organisms within it, and into traps for many decades and centuries. Agricultural areas will be able to support and enrich the biodiversity in their surroundings instead of suppressing it, to filter and conserve water instead of polluting it. And the areas themselves will be able to be used for many years, and their soil will only improve, instead of abandoning barren lands and converting new natural areas for agriculture, a conversion that is occurring today on a massive scale.

The choice and ability are in our hands; no advanced technology or large financial investment is required here.
The knowledge and experience in the field have existed for decades, backed by research. The wheel can turn to the other side.

Food Web Creature Dictionary

Bacteria

Tiny single-celled organisms. While small, they make up for their size in large numbers. They are responsible for the decomposition of organic matter and the preservation of nutrients. Bacteria secrete substances that help create aggregates and a complex soil structure. The aggregates balance water movement in the soil, prevent erosion of nutrients, and retain water in the soil itself. Of course, not all bacteria are pure souls that only do good. There are also bacteria that harm plants and other organisms. But a balanced bacterial environment helps prevent outbreaks of harmful bacteria or fungi.

Mushrooms

Mostly multicellular organisms (with the exception of yeasts). Fungi typically grow as hyphae that extend between soil particles, roots, and rocks. A single hypha can range in length from just a few cells to tens of meters.
Fungi decompose organic matter that is more difficult to break down, making it available to other life forms. Their hyphae physically bind aggregates formed by bacteria, further developing the soil structure. Mycorrhizal fungi take an additional step forward, forming a symbiotic relationship with the roots of various plants. A specific species of fungus will associate with the root of a specific plant species (for example, pine trees with Boletus luteus). The plant secretes nutrients essential for the fungus, and the fungus breaks down other nutrients and makes them available to the plant. Mycorrhizal fungi protect plant roots from damage by harmful fungi or bacteria and also serve as a means of communication between different plants.

Protozoa

Single-celled organisms that feed primarily on bacteria but also on other protozoa, organic matter, and sometimes fungi.
Protozoa help regulate bacterial populations in the soil. They also play a crucial role in the mineralization of nutrients, making them available to plants and other organisms in the food web. Protozoa have a lower concentration of nitrogen in their cells than the bacteria they feed on. Bacteria contain too much nitrogen for protozoa, so protozoa release these excess nitrogen compounds as ammonium (+NH4). This ammonium is then reabsorbed by various organisms in the food web, as well as by plants.

Nematodes

Microscopic worms that live in the soil. They can reach a length of up to one millimeter. The species responsible for plant damage have received the most attention over the years, but most nematodes are actually very beneficial to the soil and plants.
Nematodes can be divided into 4 main groups:
Nematodes that feed on bacteria
Nematodes that feed on fungi
Predatory nematodes (feed on other nematodes)
Nematodes that feed on plant roots.

Similar to protozoa, nematodes also work to mineralize nutrients and make them available to plants and other organisms. Nematodes have a lower concentration of nitrogen in their cells than the bacteria and fungi they feed on. Fungi contain too much nitrogen for nematodes; during digestion, they release this excess nitrogen in the form of ammonium (+NH4).

Because nematodes feed on fungi, bacteria, and other nematodes, they also help regulate the population sizes of these microorganisms. Similar to grazing by herbivores in a meadow - a small amount of consumption of microorganisms will actually increase their reproduction rate. Above a certain threshold, nematodes will weaken the population, which can inhibit processes.
Another role that nematodes play is the transport of microbes throughout the soil. As they move from place to place, microbes hitch a ride on their backs and within their digestive systems, thus traveling long distances.

Arthropods

(Insects lacking an internal skeleton) - Many of these creatures make their home in the soil. Some are microscopic, while others reach several centimeters in length. Among them are spiders, beetles, mites, and scorpions. Here too, some decompose organic matter, others prey on other insects, some are herbivores, and some feed on fungi. As a result of these feeding processes, they mix and aerate the soil, regulate populations of other organisms, decompose organic matter, and literally change the physical structure of the soil.

Earthworms

Probably the most well-known creature in the context of soil fertility. Most of us were exposed to them from a young age when we played in the dirt. There are 23 families of earthworms, including 700 genera and more than 7000 different species! These soft, moist worms are responsible for a wide range of activities -
They decompose organic matter and accelerate the activity of microorganisms, mix the soil and build aggregates, increase the soil's drainage and aeration capabilities through channels they dig deep into the earth, and improve water retention by the aggregates they produce. They also introduce organic matter deep into the soil, and plant roots can easily grow into the channels they dig.

Larger organisms - insects, reptiles, mammals, and birds - which we can easily see with the naked eye, and as long as their population is diverse enough, they will not become "agricultural pests." They continue the same activities as the smaller creatures but on a larger scale. Some are predators, others feed on fruits, seeds, or live plants. Each creature helps regulate the population of another creature, its feces become organic matter that nourishes smaller creatures, and when they die, their carcasses decompose and once again nourish the food web.

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