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Soil Degradation

The Silent Crisis Undermining Tennessee Farm Productivity

A Crisis Below the Surface

Soil health is declining on farms across Tennessee and the United States

50%+

Organic Matter Lost

Many agricultural soils in the U.S. have lost more than half their original organic matter compared to pre-agricultural native soils, reducing fertility and resilience.

1 Billion

Microbes per Teaspoon

Healthy soil contains up to 1 billion bacteria per teaspoon. Conventional tillage and chemical inputs dramatically reduce this microbial population, impairing soil function.

$44B

Annual Cost of Soil Erosion

The USDA estimates soil erosion costs U.S. agriculture approximately $44 billion annually in lost productivity, increased inputs, and environmental damage.

The Downward Spiral of Soil Degradation

Conventional practices create a cycle that's hard to break without intervention

1

Tillage & Chemical Inputs Kill Soil Biology

Repeated tillage destroys soil structure and fungal networks. Synthetic fertilizers reduce the need for microbial nutrient cycling, causing beneficial populations to decline.

2

Organic Matter Declines

Without active soil biology, organic matter is not replenished. Soil becomes compacted, loses its sponge-like structure, and water infiltration decreases.

3

Nutrient Availability Drops

As organic matter falls and soil biology weakens, natural nutrient cycling breaks down. Crops become more dependent on synthetic inputs just to maintain yields.

4

Higher Input Costs, Lower Yields

Farmers must apply more fertilizer to get the same results. Yields plateau or decline. Profitability shrinks. The soil becomes less and less capable of supporting crops naturally.

5

Erosion & Long-Term Loss

Degraded soil erodes more easily in rain and wind events, permanently removing topsoil that took centuries to form. Once eroded, this productivity loss is very difficult to reverse.

What Healthy Soil Does for Your Farm

🧬

Natural Nutrient Cycling

Healthy soil biology continuously cycles nutrients, fixing nitrogen from the air and unlocking phosphorus from soil minerals — reducing your need for purchased fertilizers.

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Superior Water Management

High organic matter soil absorbs rainfall quickly, stores it efficiently, and releases it slowly to crop roots — reducing drought stress and runoff losses.

🛡

Natural Disease Suppression

Diverse, robust soil microbial communities naturally suppress disease-causing pathogens, reducing crop losses and decreasing dependence on fungicides.

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Long-Term Productivity

Healthy soil improves with each season. Unlike synthetic inputs that provide diminishing returns, biological soil health compounds — productivity and efficiency improve over time.

The Terreplenish® Solution

Rebuild soil biology and break the degradation cycle

🧬

Introduce Living Biology

Terreplenish® reintroduces the nitrogen-fixing and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria that healthy soil needs, jumpstarting natural nutrient cycling.

🌱

Rebuild Organic Matter

Active microbial communities improve soil aggregate structure and organic matter retention, restoring the foundation of healthy, productive soil.

📈

Compound Benefits Over Time

Unlike synthetic fixes, Terreplenish® improves with each application as soil biology establishes and strengthens, delivering more value each season.

Primary Source

The soil health data on this page is drawn from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service soil health research and education materials.

View USDA NRCS Soil Health Report ↗

Start Rebuilding Your Soil Today

Break the degradation cycle with Terreplenish®. Join Tennessee farmers restoring soil health and profitability.