To consider safety, we focused on the Earth we live on. Episode 1 focused on the Earth itself, while Episode 2 looked at ants and bees that live in the atmosphere. Episode 3 focused on octopuses, dolphins, and whales that live in the ocean (underwater). Next, we’ll focus on organisms that live in the soil. Soil is made up of materials produced by microorganisms that break down sand and water-soaked leaf litter. Microorganisms obtain water to promote the decomposition of decaying plant matter, generating heat and stimulating fermentation while decomposing plant matter. Earthworms ingest soil sand, purifying it within their bodies and transforming it into a clean state. Moles seek out and eat earthworms that live in the soil.
Various fungi, including bacteria, live in the soil and affect it by repeatedly reproducing. Mycorrhizal fungi, a type of fungus, also live in the soil, spreading their hyphae across vast areas. Mycorrhizal fungi penetrate the roots of trees and other plants, receiving sugars produced by photosynthesis from the tree. In return, the fungi provide the tree with phosphorus and other nutrients extracted from the soil. This revitalizes the tree. While mycelium is difficult to see in the soil, it can be seen as mushrooms (mushrooms are the reproductive organs that mycelium use to reproduce) that attach to the soil surface and tree bark. Mycelium connects the trees that make up the forest through mycelium, and it is known that the mycelium network also plays a role in communicating the health of forests far away. In natural forests, mycelial networks have been observed to exist over vast areas. In this way, mycelium communicates the overall health of the forest to the trees. Forests created by periodic manual planting of trees do not allow mycelial networks to grow. Furthermore, the use of heavy machinery for tree planting compacts the soil, making it difficult for earthworms and moles to live in the soil. Earthworms and moles create tunnels in the soil, allowing air to pass through while also softening the soil to make it easier for plant roots to grow, and also storing rainwater within the tunnels. Creatures that live in the soil help plants grow. Trees convert carbon into oxygen, circulating the atmosphere. Organisms also benefit when animals and people consume plants that grow in the soil as food. Knowing and thinking about the soil environment leads to peace of mind.
Please note: References are provided in the Japanese blog with Amazon links.