Soil: Earthworms, Composting and Biodiversity

In the year 2020, I inadvertently sought out several opportunities to broaden my intellectual pursuits: an unexpected outcome of the physical stranding due to the COVID pandemic, I suppose. It all started when along with a friend I organized a plant mela for an NGO that educates, employs and empowers differently-abled children and adults from underprivileged backgrounds. This NGO does wonderful work, and I was glad I got to know some of the people running the show behind the scenes. With a neighbor, I also arranged a muskmelon sale in our community. In the process, I met an entrepreneur who uses technology to install moisture-sensing automated irrigation devices in farms. I found the technology quite intriguing. I also single-handedly arranged a mango sale in our community from a former Indian Forest Service officer-turned farmer. Pre-COVID, I doubt I would have been involved in any of these activities. Encounters with these individuals from varying backgrounds lent a fresh perspective to my thought processes.

Soaring high with these new experiences (and a little bit of pestering from my college friend!) I also decided to try composting. This initial push (thank you, SP!) has now kickstarted my journey towards a sustainable lifestyle. I am still far from where I would like to be, but I am thrilled to have at least begun.

In my quest to learn something new, I attended a talk by Dr Sultan Ahmed Ismail, a soil biologist and ecologist. The talk was arranged by Farmizen (www.farmizen.com), a company that connects farmers growing organic and natural, pesticide-free produce with consumers. Farmizen has created a two-fold system where consumers know where their food is coming from, and farmers develop a wider and more consistent consumer base. The talk by Dr Ismail was an eye-opener. I will try to summarize the key points from his talk in this blog.

While we celebrate biodiversity on the one hand, we interfere with it through genetic manipulation on the other. In the continuing struggle between ecology and economy, ecology seems to be on the losing end.

There were three aspects to Dr Ismail’s talk –

1) Soil and its significance in our ecosystem

2) Composting — it is easy to do for ALL — the urban settlers and the rural dwellers

3) Use of biotechnology to preserve biodiversity, not destroy it

Soil and its significance in our ecosystem

Soil is scientifically classified as a non-living entity. Yet, with its ability to a) sustain millions of bacteria, fungi, amoebae, nematodes, arthropods, earthworms and humans (through the food we get from it); and b) decide what grows (seeds) and what decomposes (other organic matter) in it, it may be akin to a living organism. The earthworms living in the soil may be considered as its pulse. Their presence in soil is a tell-tale sign of its health and fertility. Different species of earthworms work in perfect synchrony to maintain the circulatory system of the soil, and ensure water and soil nutrients reach the plants and trees growing in it. The earthworms work with meticulous precision to maintain a balanced ecosystem in soil, and they contribute to the region’s biodiversity. Earthworms also help in the composting process.

Composting — it is easy to do for ALL

Composting is easy and can be done on a small scale by urban families living in apartments or on a large scale by people living in a villa, bungalow or on a farm. Dr Ismail gave many tips on composting including the use of earthworms and cow dung to facilitate the process. Earthworms ingest soil and organic matter, and convert the contents in their gastrointestinal tract to vermicompost — a wholesome food for plants. I was awestruck when my first batch of compost was ready; colorful food waste converted into black gold with the assistance of worms, ants and other crawling critters! I have not tried earthworms for composting yet, but it’s definitely on my to-try list.

Use of biotechnology to preserve biodiversity, not destroy it

Biotechnology is a tool to advance agricultural practices, and not interfere with the genetic make-up of a living entity. However, we use biotechnology to manipulate the genomes of plants by introducing genes from other species to make ‘genetically modified organisms or GMOs’. At the outset this sounds appealing; introducing a property or properties that enhance(s) the value of the plant/crop. Some of the reasons that encourage the farmers to use GMOs in agriculture are — increased crop yields, better pest resistance, enhanced nutrient composition. Golden rice is a fortified rice variety that has beta carotene genes from daffodils inserted in the plant genome. Beta carotene is a precursor to vitamin A. The idea is that consuming beta carotene-rich rice grain will provide humans with the necessary ingredient to synthesize vitamin A. This sounds good theoretically, but the downstream effects of this genetic manipulation are unknown. Wouldn’t it be easier to consume carrots or some other food that is a natural source of vitamin A? Why this tampering with the genetic code of a living entity? What would be the long-term effects of this tampering on biodiversity?

Dr Ismail’s talk encouraged me to respect the intricate processes that are involved in growing my food, and be more conscious about the source of my food!

Check out Dr Ismail’s talk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afskHJl_TwI&t=2927s