Healthy Soils for a Healthy California

Healthy Soils, Healthy California!

Find credible, relevant, practical (how to) information to help you build and protect your soils, gardens, farms, ranches, and our environment!

Soils are the foundation of California’s ecosystems, agriculture, and climate resilience. Healthy soils store water, cycle nutrients, support biodiversity, and sequester carbon—contributing to food security, environmental sustainability, and climate change mitigation. UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) works across the state to improve soil health through research, education, and partnerships.

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Healthy Soils: Basics and Diagnostics

Healthy soil supports plant growth, holds water, resists erosion, and cycles nutrients. Key traits include good structure, organic matter, and biological activity. Diagnostics range from simple field checks—like compaction and infiltration—to lab tests for nutrients and microbial health.

Farmers: Annual Crops and Orchards

Soils are central to farm and orchard management—they influence water availability, nutrient cycling, root development, and overall plant health. Managing soil well improves productivity, sustainability, and resilience.

Soils for Homes and Gardens

Healthy soil is essential for thriving home gardens and landscapes. It supports strong root growth, holds moisture, and provides nutrients for plants. Adding amendments such as compost improves soil structure, boosts fertility, and feeds beneficial soil organisms, making it a simple, effective way to build healthy garden soil. Learn more!

Ranchers and Natural Resource Managers

For ranchers and natural resource managers, healthy soils support productive rangelands, resilient ecosystems, and water retention. Good soil enhances forage quality, reduces erosion, and stores carbon. Practices like managed grazing, compost application, and protecting ground cover help maintain and improve soil health across working landscapes.