Soil Organic Matter
What is topsoil worth?
Organic matter management is cost effective because it can prevent erosion and
help remedy the effects of past erosion. Here are examples of how to put a
dollar value on soil.
| Item |
Cost/ton |
| Cost by the bag |
$40 - $80 |
| Cost by the truckload |
$15 |
| Cost to replace soil functions and remedy off-site damage (Figure 5) |
$19* |
| Cost of erosion to downstream navigation |
$0 - $5 |
| Cost to human health |
$3 |
| Cost to return soil to its original, non-eroded condition |
Priceless |
Figure 5. Components of the value of a ton of topsoil worth $19*.
*Data are adjusted to 1997 dollars.
> Go to "National Trends in Soil
Organic Matter Management"
| 
Soil Quality
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