That’s right! Just not the type of livestock you’re probably thinking of. Instead of cows, pigs, or chickens, you’re farming macro and microorganisms. A teaspoon of healthy soil can contain BILLIONS of microorganisms. Microorganisms in the soil are things such as bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and nematodes. Many of these organisms are essential for building healthy and resilient soil systems, which give us healthy and resilient plants in return.
Organisms like mycorrhizal fungi, for instance, will attach to a plant’s root and effectively become a root itself, transferring nutrients and capturing water through a symbiotic relationship. Certain types of bacteria in the soil can transform unavailable forms of nutrients (such as nitrogen) into a form the plant can then uptake.
Healthy soils will also contain various macroorganisms. These are organisms you can see in the soil without a microscope, such as earthworms. Macroorganisms, called shredders, help break down detritus on top of the soil and pull/incorporate organic matter and nutrients into the subsurface layers of the soil. Earthworms create pore spaces within the soil which bring air to the subsurface and create voids where roots can grow. They also promote a nutrient-rich casting called globules which help with the aggregate stability of the soil.
All these organisms and many more play a role in soil health and sustainability and should be looked after as one would look after their traditional livestock. Cover cropping, no tilling, avoiding compaction, and increasing biodiversity are among the main strategies to keeping your soil and soil-livestock healthy.