Fun with Worms Set up a worm composter in your classroom to discover one of the ways that wildlife can contribute to healthy ecosystems by enriching soil. To get started, click here.

Agricultural production depends on the quality of soil. High quality soil has a lot of nutrients and organic matter. When crops are grown, cultivated and harvested, the nutrients in the soil are used up by the plants. As a result, the soil is left with less nutrients.

	Soil - It's More Than Just Dirt Explore how plants and animals can contribute to healthy soil ecosystems: click here

If nutrients and organic matter are not returned to the soil (e.g. by leaving stalks, stems and leaves from the previous harvest on the field), it loses its ability to grow food. In those cases, the soil would then need artificial fertilizers and chemical compounds to enrich the soil. The problem arises when these fertilizers and chemicals leach into nearby rivers and streams and pollute the water system.