Human Health Impacted by Soil Diversity

By: Ericka Serna

From (Wall, D.H. et al 2015). This figure shows how land use and management affect soil biodiversity and the impact it has on human health. 

Soil biodiversity not only provides disease control, but it also influences the quantity and quality of food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe. These provisions are impacted by how we utilize soils as a resource. The alteration of soils results in loss of biodiversity, as well as possible sources of antibiotics and medicines. Better soil management will maintain soil biodiversity, which can then be used as a resource to sustain or improve human health. Several ways to improve soil management include include soil food-web complexity and agroecological practices that will enhance soil organic matter content and soil biodiversity. Further studies in soil biodiversity conservation should be made due to the impact it has on human health worldwide.

Wall DH, Nielsen UN, Six Johan. (2015) Soil biodiversity and human health. Nature. 528: 69-76.