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Soil Organic Matter

What is topsoil worth?

Organic matter management is cost effective because it can prevent erosion and help remediate the effects of past erosion. Here are examples of how to put a dollar value on soil.

Item Cost/ton
Cost by the bag $70 - $140
Cost by the truckload $26
Cost to replace soil functions and remedy off-site damage (Figure 5) $28*
Cost of erosion to downstream navigation $0 - $7
Cost to human health $4
Cost to return soil to its original, non-eroded condition Priceless

 

After the start of good soil management, soil properties and then environmental quality gradually improve.
 
Figure 5. Components of the value of a ton of topsoil worth $28*.

*Data are adjusted to 2011 dollars.

> Go to "National Trends in Soil Organic Matter Management"