Does the amount of soil content decrease?

Question

You have a container with plants growing. They continue growing in the same container as you cut/trim them every so often to keep them in the container. Does the amount of soil content decrease after a certain amount of time?

Answer 1

Well, several factors will change the amount of soil in the container. One, as mentioned before, organic matter will fall off the tree and decay into the soil, increasing it. Two! organic material, including nitrogen will turn into gas and escape, thereby decreasing the amount of soil. This is happening in northern California, in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and farmers are losing a lot of soil due to the high organic matter, it just breaks down and escapes as gas.

The plants would be gaining nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus and other nutrients out of the soil which are then turned into the tree. That would decrease the amount of soil. Although that happens, the bulk of the plant matter is from carbon dioxide which is gathered from the atmosphere, not the soil

I think overall, the amount of the soil would decrease after awhile slightly, for these reasons. Hope it is helpful!!

Answer 2

Actually, the amount of soil tends to increase (albeit very slowly). This is because the plant gets most of its biomass from carbon absorption. All the soil provides is trace minerals and a substrate from which it gets water and nitrogen, and protects its root system.

Answer 3

it may increase but it does not decrease