Rationale

The purpose of doing thorough investigation of these two different soil samples was to learn about the soil composition and biodiversity from two different soil conditions and analyze similarities and differences between them. Doing so can give us deeper understanding about the overall soil health based on quantitative measures of pH, moisture content, functional and genetic biodiversity. According to Zhang et al, "Soil health, by definition, is the capacity of a living soil to function, within natural or managed ecosystem boundaries, to sustain plant and animal productivity, maintain or enhance water and air quality, and promote plant and animal health." Without plant and animal productivity, human life would cease to exist because plants and animals are our sources of food, and we cannot have productive agriculture or animal domestication without adequately cared for soil. To improve agricultural output, manipulating any of these factors (pH, moisture content, microbial biodiversity), can be effective depending on the issue that is being addressed. For example, if plants are suffering from frequent diseases, introducing certain kinds of microbes can help improve the plant immune system (Zhang et al). Overall, soil health is crucial to having a productive garden, and this is especially important at the Erie Street Community Garden where the produce helps feed the residents of the surrounding neighborhoods which are in a food desert (they lack access to full service grocery stores where they can buy fresh fruits and vegetables).