World Soil Day (WSD) is observed annually on December 5^th to focus attention on the importance of healthy soils and advocate for the sustainable management of soil resources. The theme for this year's celebration – "Caring for Soils: Measure, Monitor, Manage" – underscores the importance of accurate soil data and information in understanding soil characteristics and supporting informed decision-making on sustainable soil management for food security.

This year marks the 10^th anniversary of our global World Soil Day celebration! To commemorate the day, NRCS created a presentation highlighting the Soils of Rhode Island: 

“Maintaining healthy soil and water through sustainable practices are key to supporting climate-smart agriculture and forestry to increase agricultural production to meet global food demand,” said Phou Vongkhamdy, NRCS State Conservationist in Rhode Island. “NRCS supports Rhode Island agriculture and forests through key investments in soil health practices.”

NRCS works hand-in-hand with Rhode Island farmers and forest landowners to improve the health and function of their soil. Our customers increase their soil’s organic matter and improve microbial activity by adopting soil health principles and conservation practices like cover crops, crop rotation, no till, buffer strips, grassed waterways, and vegetative barriers, which are also climate-smart mitigation activities funded under the Inflation Reduction Act through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program. These practices can significantly decrease greenhouse gas emissions or increase carbon sequestration, while simultaneously improving soil health, water and air quality, pollinator and wildlife habitat, and farm/forest production.

Soil Facts

• It can take up to 1,000 years to form just 1 inch of soil.
• There are more living organisms in a tablespoon of soil than there are people on Earth!
• Every 1% increase in soil organic matter can yield up to 25,000 gallons of available soil water per acre.
• Healthy soil is made up of about 45% minerals, 25% water, 5% organic matter and 25% air.

Last year, NRCS helped Rhode Island farmers and forest landowners assess over apply 860 acres for soil quality and apply soil health practices on over 275 acres to sequester more carbon, increase water infiltration, improve wildlife and pollinator habitat, and harvest better profits and yields.

Learn More

Learn more about improving soil health on your land by visiting our website at www.RI.nrcs.usda.gov or reaching out to your local NRCS field office or Conservation District office.

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