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| Function of organic matter in soil |
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| Organic matter contributes to plant growth through its effect on the physical, chemical,and biological properties of the soil. It has a : |
- nutritional function in that it serves as a source of N, P for plant growth
- biological function in that it profoundly affects the activities of microflora and microfaunal organisms
- physical and physico-chemical function in that it promotes good soil structure, thereby improving tilth, aeration and retention of moisture and increasing buffering and exchange capacity of soils.
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| Humus also plays an indirect role in soil through its effect on the uptake of micronutrients
by plants and the performance of herbicides and other agricultural chemicals. It should be emphasized that the importance of any given factor will vary from one soil to another and will depend upon such environmental conditions as climate and crpping history. |
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| Availability of nutrients for planth growth |
| Organic matter has both a direct and indirect effect on the availability of nutrients for plant
growth. In addition to serving as a source of N, P, S through its mineralization by soil microorganisms, organic matter influences the supply of nutrients from other sources (for example, organic matter is required as an energy source for N-fixing bacteria). |
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| Effect on soil physical condition, soil erosion and soil buffering and exchange capacity |
| Humus has a profound effect on the structure of many soils. The deterioration of structure
that accompanies intensive tillage is usually less severe in soils adequately supplied with humus. When humus is lost, soils tend to become hard, compact and cloddy. |
| Aeration, water-holding capacity and permeability are all favorably affected by humus. |
| The frequent addition of easily decomposable organic residues leads to the synthesis of complex organic compounds that bind soil particles into structural units called aggregates. These aggregates help to maintain a loose, open, granular condition. Water is the better able to infiltrate and percolate downward through the soil.The roots of plants need a continual supply of O2 in order to respire and grow. Large pores permit better exchange of gases between soil and atmosphere. |
| Humus usually increases the ability of the soil to resist erosion. First, it enables the soil to
hold more water. Even more important is its effect in promoting soil granulation and thus maintaining large pores through which water can enter and percolate downward. |
| From 20 to 70% of the exchange capacity of many soils is caused by colloidal humic
substances. Total acidities of isolated fractions of humus range from 300 to 1400 meq/100g.As far as buffer action is concerned, humus exhibits buffering over a wide pH range. |
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| Effect on soil biological condition |
| Organic matter srves as a source of energy for both macro- and microfaunal organisms. |
| Numbers of bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi in the soil are related in a general way to humus content. Earthworms and other faunal organisms are strongly affected by the quantity of plant residue material returned to the soil. |
| Organic substances in soil can have a direct physiological effect on plant growth. Some
compounds, such as certain phenolic acids, have phytotoxic properties; others, such as the auxins, enhance plant growth. |
| It is widely known that many of the factors influencing the incidense of pathogenic
organisms in soil are directly or indirectly influenced by organic matter. For example, a plentiful supply of organic matter may favor the growth of saprophytic organisms relative to parasitic ones and thereby reduce populations of the latter. Biologically active compounds in soil, such as antibiotics and certain phenolic acids, may enhance the ability of certain plants to resist attack by pathogens. |
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