How many soil animals live per square centimeter of soil? Do you know?
It's a huge challenge to be able to present something in a comprehensible and simple way. Especially something you can't even see. This film succeeds in explaining the complex relationships of soil in a simple way. I find that very helpful for those who deal with it, and also because it opens up a world that you might not even notice. We walk on it, we stand on it, we sleep on it, and we know so little about the life unfolding and unfolding beneath our feet.
This film is a great contribution to showing this life beneath our feet in a more understandable and optimal way. I think it's wonderful and am grateful that there are people who are also equipped with the skills to show such things and make the connection.
Experience Soil - FILM
The film shows in many ways what our fascinating soil is like:
From fantastic insights into the multifaceted and exciting world of soil life to the importance of soil for the environment and humanity. This film clearly demonstrates why it is so important to pay more attention to our soil. After all, it is one of the most important foundations for life on our planet! Countless soil animals live on and in one square meter of soil, both large and small. There are hundreds of earthworms and woodlice, thousands of small mites and springtails. As well as millions of single-celled organisms and billions of algae, bacteria, and fungi. Microscope images provide a glimpse into the mysterious world of microorganisms: from the switchback animal that constantly changes its shape, to the proboscis animal with its poison-tipped proboscis, to the tardigrade, which can survive extreme environmental conditions for long periods in a death-like state.
All of these organisms not only live in the soil, but also contribute to its formation. How the soil formed can be seen in its layered structure. Below is the solid bedrock, on top of which lies the weathered layer of crushed rock, and above it the humus layer full of life. This process takes a long time. Approximately ten centimeters of soil are formed in a thousand years. Soil cannot be reproduced; its area is and will remain limited. That's why soil protection is so important. We need it because we live primarily from what grows in the soil. Whether directly as food or indirectly as feed for our livestock. Undeveloped soil is important, also for our water balance. Rainfall hits the earth, seeps into the soil, or is stored there until it penetrates the soil layers into the groundwater or flows into rivers and bodies of water. A single square meter of soil can absorb up to 250 liters of water, even a very large bathtub full. Heavy rainfall is retained in the soil and therefore does not quickly cause flooding. The soil is also crucial for the quality of our water. It purifies precipitation and meltwater. The soil's ability to absorb moisture is also important for our climate. Through evaporation, the soil regulates temperature in hot weather. By storing heat, it mitigates cold. Because soil formation takes so long and soil cannot be reproduced, it is so important to protect it. Our view of the earth remains superficial until we penetrate the thin skin of our planet, the soil.
Copyright: Land OÖ More information on soil and soil protection
For the purpose of raising awareness or providing information (e.g., in school classes), the film may be shown in whole or in part free of charge, provided the state of Upper Austria is credited as the author. For use of the footage on television or in public screenings, please contact us. We will provide the film in HD or 4K quality upon request and are happy to provide you with further information and materials (Office of the Upper Austrian Provincial Government, Directorate for Environment and Water Management, Department of Environmental Protection, Kärntnerstraße 10-12, 4021 Linz; us.post@ooe.gv.at; Tel.: +49 732 7720 13623).
