Soil biology isn’t just the name of our website, it is our whole ethos! 

Soil is full of life - it is often said that a handful of soil contains more living organisms than there are people on the whole planet.  We need to protect this micro-eco-system and work with it to establish and maintain heathy, sustainable green spaces for recreation and sports surfaces.

Soil biology is crucial for maintaining soil health, fertility, and ecosystem balance. It helps in nutrient cycling, organic matter decomposition, and enhancing soil structure, which are vital for plant growth, percolation and drainage, and environmental sustainability.

Playing outdoors sports is great for people’s health, and of course a golf course or football pitch is much “greener” than say taking up skydiving, or 4x4 off roading.

However, maintaining lush, green golf courses and grass sports pitches can have adverse effects on fragile ecosystems, including from water use and the routine spraying of toxic chemicals including herbicides, pesticides and fertilisers, which not only effect the immediate surface, but can runoff to nearby water courses.

By using Soil Biology friendly products, the reliance on these harmful chemicals can be reduced or even eliminated, whilst still supporting high quality playing surfaces, so you can benefit not only a healthy population, but a healthier environment too.

Chemicals and fertilisers may improve the appearance of grass swards above the surface but can be causing more harm than good to the long-term health of the plant, and the soil it depends on. 

a) Impacts on microbial communities – bacteria, fungi and other soil microbes play an essential role in nutrient cycling.  Chemicals can inhibit the activity of beneficial microbes leading to a decrease in essential processes such as organic matter decomposition and nutrient mineralisation.

b) Effect on soil invertebrates – Pesticides and insecticides can be toxic to earthworms and insects which are crucial for soil aeration and organic matter breakdown.  They can also disrupt the soil food web, affecting predators and beneficial organisms that rely on the smaller invertebrates for food.

c) Changes in soil chemistry - Use of fertilisers and chemicals can lead to nutrient imbalances in the soil, such as high nitrogen levels, or can alter the pH to be too acidic or alkaline.  The natural organisms and nutrient cycles cannot adapt and are negatively impacted.

d) Impact on soil structure - Soil compaction from overuse of chemical treatments and heavy machinery can reduce pore space and negatively impact water infiltration, percolation, and root growth.  The chemicals that kill soil organisms also results in a reduction of organic matter breakdown, leading to a decline in soil structure and fertility.

e) Bioaccumulation - Some chemicals and fertilisers have persistent residues that can persist in the soil leading to longer term impacts on the soil biology, and overuse can also lead to resistant strains requiring even more potent chemicals that will only further exacerbate the underlying soil biology impacts.

Diversity in soil biology is crucial for maintaining healthy and resilient ecosystems. A rich variety of microorganisms, fungi, and other soil organisms contribute to essential processes like nutrient cycling, decomposition, and soil structure formation.

This biological diversity helps to support plant growth, improve water retention, and enhance the soil's ability to withstand environmental stressors, such as drought, flood and disease. In essence, a diverse soil biome fosters a balanced and sustainable environment, promoting long-term turf health for improved sports and recreation surfaces that are ecologically more stable.

Soil Biology UK conducts research on various aspects of soil biology, including microbial communities, soil fauna, nutrient cycling, and the impact of human activities on soil health.

We constantly trial new and existing bio and natural turf health products to build programs that can be tailored to individual course and pitch problems or used to maintain a healthy turf without the need for conventional chemical treatments. 

We work with a number of industry leading manufacturers to provide the turf and amenity industry with high quality products that are both effective and have a low or positive environmental impact.

If you’re reading this, then you’ve already started! 

The first step is to be open to try a new approach and reduce your reliance on chemicals from large chemical corporations that are expensive to operate and highly focused on short term profit over long term performance of your grounds.

We find that the vast majority of our customers build their trust in Soil Biology and adapt their routines over a few seasons, as they see the grass surfaces improve using less or even zero fertilisers and chemical maintenance sprays.  Seeing is believing.

Yes, we regularly host events and workshops.

We also attend industry trade shows and events - check the Events section of our website for the latest information on upcoming activities.

Yes, we offer one to one support, or can help to train your team on getting the best results from our natural and sustainable turf health products, feel free to contact us any time to ask for more information or support.

You can contact us through the contact form on our website or email us at info@soilbiology.uk. Our team is here to help with any questions or support you may need.

The latest news and updates can be found in our News section and by following us on our social media channels.