Summer of 2022 is a serious drought in Massachusetts. Lots of people and organizations are providing lots of good information about how to help plants survive drought conditions, but few are talking about soil health to combat drought, so I’d like to provide a bit of information to folks about it.

Healthy soil with good amounts of organic matter (OM) hold more water. Like, lots more water.

How much more? “Each 1 percent increase in soil organic matter helps soil hold 20,000 gallons more water per acre.”

THAT IS A LOT OF WATER!

Before smartypantsers get all upset, I want to be clear that improving the carbon and organic matter content of your soil isn’t going to magically produce water for your plants. However, it will hold more water longer, which sometimes can mean no irrigation is needed and other times only means less irrigation is needed.

How does one improve the OM in their soil? By adding OM, of course. This can be in the form of compost spread on top (NOT tilled in!) and using biodegradable mulch, such as shredded leaves, including over the winter. Do not let your soil go naked! Naked soil will lose OM in the form of CO2.

Also, do NOT till your soil. Not only does that destroy tilth of the soil, it creates a hardpan beneath the soil surface that prevents water penetration below the surface and contributes to runoff. It also aids in rapid decomposition of OM, the exact opposite of what you want.

The entire state is in drought and people are placing bets about whether predicted rainfalls will actually arrive. Healthy soil doesn’t mean never watering, but it does mean your water will do better between waterings.