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ECOSYSTEM SERVICES FROM LIVING PLANTS

Ecology is the science of interconnected relationships be- into carbon-based molecules which nourish and sustain
tween organisms and their environments. One of the most almost all living organisms on the planet. 6CO2+6H2O =
ecologically influential organisms on our environment C6H12O6 +6O2 is the most important piece of chemistry
is plants. Without plants, life could not exist on Earth as in the world! The simple carbon sugar glucose molecule
plants impact all four of the critical ecosystem processes formed in photosynthesis is the basis for our entire food
that sustain life. In fact, one of the biggest mistakes of soil chain… and having breathable oxygen as a byproduct is
science is teaching that plants and soil are separate ecosys- not bad either! Ancient people used to call plants “the
tems, when in reality, they are the same ecosystem. With- mouth” of the soil, because without plants the soil does
out plants you cannot call soil soil — which by definition, not eat. Plants are the primary conduits of life-sustaining
denotes life! Soil without plant and microbial life is just ge- energy which is used to feed the biological life in the soil,
ology – dirt and rocks! Soil is the intimate union between which in turn feeds us!
biology and geology. Plant-soil life is the most powerful
geological force on the planet and without it, these four 2. Nutrient Cycling
life sustaining ecosystem processes would not happen and This process occurs when plants exude their myriad
earth would be a lifeless planet. of photosynthetically derived carbon-based molecules
through their root systems to feed a plethora of soil organ-
isms. In return, this soil biota
community mines, extracts,
modifies, and delivers nutri-
ents and minerals from the soil
matrix and “trades” it back to
the plant in exchange for car-
bon-based food. Additionally,
microbes (rhizobia and others)
can convert inert atmospheric
Photo by Lance Klessig nitrogen that allows a plant
nitrogen into plant available

community to grow and thrive.
Plants and microbes are respon-

If farmers, ranchers, and agriculturists are going to make sible for over 90% of natural nutrient cycling, availability,
and production for living organisms.
a sustainable living on the land, it is critically important
to understand how the four ecosystem processes function 3. Water Cycle
and how critical plants are to these systems. These four As plants and microbes collaboratively modify their
processes provide daily services that are critical to all of mineral habitat, they create super biotic glues that
life on the farm, ranch, and other natural ecosystems, and aggregate sand, silt, and clays to create a porous struc-
indeed it is not an overstatement to say that all life on ture which allows the infiltration of water. Infiltration is
earth depends on these keystone cycles. These four pro- the key to the water cycle and its importance cannot be
cesses are interconnected and cannot function properly overstated. Plants also increase infiltration through root
without each other. If one of these processes is missing or channels and protection from the kinetic energy of rain
compromised, then the other processes will not drops. The amount of rainfall a farm receives
function properly, which will diminish ecosys- “Soil without plant is irrelevant if the rain does not infiltrate into
tem services and reduce our ability to produce and microbial life the soil. Many droughts are partially the result
feed, fiber, and food for a growing world. is just geology - of poor infiltration. Additionally, plant evapo-

1. Capture Solar Energy dirt and rocks! transpiration is a key part of the water cycle as
Plants capture the sun’s energy through pho- Soil is the intimate 40% of our inland rain comes from plants and
tosynthesis and convert this light energy into union between soil creating humidity.
chemical energy which is then transformed biology and geology.”

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