Healthy Soil, Healthy Future

Mint NMore
Jul 22
3 min read

The Benefits of Increasing Soil Organic Matter (SOM)

Residential lawn in early stages of native prairie planting to improve soil health and biodiversity.

Whether you’re tending a backyard garden or managing a farm, the health of your soil is the foundation of your success. One of the most important—yet often overlooked—aspects of soil health is soil organic matter (SOM). Increasing SOM not only improves productivity and resilience but also enhances environmental health. Here’s why it matters and how you can boost it, whether you’re a homeowner or a farmer.

Why Soil Organic Matter Matters

Soil organic matter is made up of decomposed plant and animal materials, living soil organisms (like fungi, bacteria, and earthworms), and humus—the stable end product of organic decay. Here are some of the major benefits:

1. Improved Soil Structure and Water Holding

SOM binds soil particles together, improving structure and creating better pore space. This means better water infiltration and retention—essential during both heavy rains and droughts.

2. Enhanced Nutrient Availability

Organic matter is a reservoir of nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur. It also increases the soil’s cation exchange capacity, helping retain and slowly release nutrients to plants.

3. Boosted Soil Life

SOM fuels beneficial microbes and other organisms that support plant health, suppress disease, and help cycle nutrients.

4. Carbon Sequestration

By increasing SOM, carbon is stored in the soil instead of the atmosphere—helping to mitigate climate change.

5. Better Yields and Resilience

Healthier soils with more organic matter tend to produce stronger, more resilient plants that can better withstand weather extremes and pest pressures.

How to Increase Soil Organic Matter

For Home Gardeners

Compost Regularly: Apply homemade or local compost to your beds each season to feed your soil.
Mulch with Organic Materials: Use grass clippings, shredded leaves, or straw to protect and enrich the soil.
Grow Cover Crops: Even in small gardens, a winter rye or clover cover crop can fix nitrogen and add biomass.
Minimize Soil Disturbance: Reduce tilling to preserve soil structure and microbial life.
Plant Diversity: Rotate crops and include a mix of flowers, herbs, and vegetables to support soil biology.

For Farmers

Use Diverse Crop Rotations: Mixing up crops over time boosts SOM and reduces disease and pest pressure.
Integrate Cover Crops: Rye, vetch, radish, and clover add biomass and roots to the soil, boosting organic matter.
Apply Compost or Manure: Properly managed additions of composted manure or green waste build SOM while recycling nutrients.
Reduce Tillage: No-till or strip-till systems protect soil structure and microbial communities.
Incorporate Perennials or Agroforestry: Deep-rooted plants like grasses and shrubs build SOM deeper in the soil profile.
Grazing Management: Well-managed rotational grazing of livestock can enhance pasture productivity and organic matter inputs.

A Shared Responsibility for Soil Health

Increasing soil organic matter isn’t just good for yields and garden success—it’s a way we can all contribu

te to environmental health, climate resilience, and food security. Whether you have a few raised beds or hundreds of acres, every bit of carbon we return to the soil is a step toward a more sustainable and thriving land.

Want help evaluating your soil or planning organic matter strategies? Reach out to your local extension office or soil and water conservation district for region-specific support and soil testing services. We've compiled a list of some Iowa specific resources for regenerative and organic farming practices below. Let’s build better soil—one compost pile, cover crop, and root system at a time.