May 24, 2018 – Summertime is recreation time! While the wilds may call us, respect for ecosystems should guide us. Soils Matter, Soil Science Society of America’s science-based blog, explains why we should protect life underfoot.

• Watch where you step—there’s life under there! Read how soil compaction can impact your favorite wooded retreat. And stay on the path! https://soilsmatter.wordpress.com/2015/06/15/why-does-it-matter-if-i-stay-on-the-trail-while-hiking-in-the-woods-and-parks/
• There’s a lot going on in the soil! Even a heavily-trafficked area like the National Mall in Washington, D.C., has a surprising amount of critters. Read about it in https://soilsmatter.wordpress.com/2018/02/01/what-is-the-soil-microbiome/
• There are millions of different types of microbes that live in the soil. Find out why that’s good, here: https://soilsmatter.wordpress.com/2015/07/14/is-it-true-bacteria-live-in-the-soil-isnt-that-bad/

Soils Matter is a blog of the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA). New blogs are posted on the 1^st of and 15^th of every month and are written by member scientists.