Once we turn this downward spiral around and increase organic matter in the topsoil, it acts like a sponge and absorbs water. Any water which hits the property either as rain, run-off from higher ground or even as dew, gets absorbed, stored and managed by soil biology like Mycelium mats underground. Once it is saturated, it will release the water through its capillaries, which runs clear.

Run-off after a downpour should be clear. If it is brown or even muddy, it carries away our precious topsoil in its wake.

The role of the water holding capacity of soil organic matter is enormous. According to the ‘Soil Carbon Coalition’ – in a conservative estimate – topsoil can hold four times its weight in water. We can expect that an additional 1.5% of soil organic matter could reasonably hold another 228 tons of water per hectare.

Please understand the magnitude of this – one kilo of water equals one litre. This would mean an additional of 228,000 litres of water storage capacity on one hectare.

To give you a visual – I have a 25,000-litre domestic water tank at home. An additional 1.5% of Soil Organic Matter would provide us with – roughly – 10 domestic water tanks per hectare additional water holding capacity.

The additional humidity in the soil acts like thermal mass. It stabilises the temperature in and above the ground, which leads to cooler soil in summer and warmer soil in winter. For our region, this means additional humidity prevents the soil from drying out in summer and protects it from frost damage in winter, protecting the soil biology.

It keeps pasture plants growing throughout winter, resulting in growth spurts, once spring temperatures hit.

CSIRO confirms an increase of 10% soil moisture, more than triples activity in photosynthesis in the plants, leading to almost three times the growth rate.

Now we are changing the microclimate on our property. Water attracts water, increased humidity in the soil attracts more humidity above ground. Initially as dew and mist, later as rain.

A self-perpetuating virtual cycle of water retention has started.

Now let’s ponder what the increased water in the ground, stabilised temperature and increased humidity on our properties does to our bushfire risk.

Imagine those 228 tons of additional water per hectare in a bushfire season.

Please keep sending your comments and questions to hello@stefaniehildmann.com.