Difference between revisions of "Humus"

Revision as of 19:45, 24 June 2012

Topic in Gardening courses. By John Eagles.

This page is under construction!

Humus is organic matter in the soil resulting from decomposition of plant and animal residues. Humus has reached a point of stability and won't break down easily by microorganisms.

In most soils the percentage of humus ranges from two to ten percent. In peat bog it is up to 90 percent. The average composition is 58 % Carbon, 5 % Nitrogen, several acids. The C:N ratios varies from 10:1 to 12:1.^[1]

Humus improves the physical condition of the soil. It contains essential plant nutrients and it improves the soil's capacity to hold water. It prevents leaching of water soluble plant nutrients and it improves the microbial activity of a soil. Soils with humus have better aeration and drainage by making the soil more porous.

References

↑ Soil Humus - My Agriculture Information Bank

[1] Soil Humus - My Agriculture Information Bank

[1]

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 : ''This page is under construction!''
-== From: http://agriinfo.in/default.aspx?page=topic&superid=5&topicid=137
+Humus is organic matter in the soil resulting from decomposition of plant and animal residues. Humus has reached a point of stability and won't break down easily by microorganisms.
-Soil Humus ==
-Humus is the organic  residue in the soil resulting from decomposition of plant and animal residues  in soil, or it is the highly complex organic residual matter in soil which is  not readily degraded by microorganism, or it is the soft brown/dark coloured  amorphous substance composed of residual organic matter along with dead  microorganisms.
+In most soils the percentage of humus ranges from two to ten percent. In peat bog it is up to 90 percent. The average composition is 58 % Carbon, 5 % Nitrogen, several acids. The C:N ratios varies from 10:1 to 12:1.<ref>[http://agriinfo.in/default.aspx?page=topic&superid=5&topicid=137 Soil Humus - My Agriculture Information Bank]</ref>
-Composition of Humus:
+Humus improves the physical condition of the soil. It contains essential plant nutrients and it improves the soil's capacity to hold water. It prevents leaching of water soluble plant nutrients and it improves the microbial activity of a soil. Soils with humus have better aeration and drainage by making the soil more porous.
-In most soil, percentage  of humus ranges from 2-10 percent, whereas it is up to 90 percent in peat bog.  On average humus is composed of Carbon (58 %), Nitrogen (3-6 %, Av.5%), acids -  humic acid, fulvic acid, humin, apocrenic acid, and C: N ratio 10:1 to 12:1. During the course of their activities, the  microorganisms synthesize number of compounds which plays important role in  humus formation.
-Functions/Role of Humus:
-It improves       physical condition of soil
-Improve water holding capacity of soil
-Serve as store house for essential plant       nutrients
-Plays important role in determining       fertility level of soil
-It tend to make soils more granular with       better aggregation of soil particles
-Prevent leaching losses of water soluble       plant nutrients
-Improve microbial/biological activity in       soil and encourage better development of plant-root system in soil
-Act as buffering agent i.e.       prevent sudden change in soil PH/soil reaction
-Serve as source of energy and       food for the development of soil organisms
-It supplies both basic and       acidic nutrients for the growth and development of higher plants
-Improves aeration and drainage       by making the soil more porous
 == See also ==
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 * [[Micro-organisms in the soil]]
 * [[Soil]]
+== References ==
+<references/>
 [[Category:Gardening]]
 [[Category:Gardening courses]]