Explain how this information can be used to enhance agricultural productivity ?
Soil organic matter (SOM) can be measured by (i) ignition method that involves thermal decomposition of SOM using muffle furnace (ii) CO2 evolution measurement (iii) Respiration studies using respirometer (iv) Permanganate oxidation of SOC used to measure labile SOC.
Another recently developed sensor system method is based on simultaneous reflectance measurement at 660 and 940 nm wavelength. Ratio of reflectance refers to conc. of SOC.
Please refer to article published in Soil and Water Res. 2021, 16 (3):174-179.
SOM is classified into living organisms and plant and animal residues. The latter serves as potential food for organisms. Plant and animal residues are transformed in to humic and non humic substances. The latter consists three fractions i.e humic acid, fulvic acid and humin.
Himanshu Tiwari
Various techniques such as loss-on-ignition, the Walkley-Black method, dry combustion, soil respiration, near-infrared spectroscopy, and soil health assessments are utilized to classify and measure soil organic matter (SOM) content, providing insights into soil health and fertility. These methods enable farmers to tailor soil management practices such as cover cropping, reduced tillage, crop rotation, and organic amendments to increase SOM levels and improve soil fertility, structure, and water retention. Monitoring SOM content helps optimize nutrient availability, balance soil biological activity, and enhance soil structure and water retention, ultimately promoting better root growth, nutrient uptake, and drought resilience in crops, leading to increased productivity and sustainable land stewardship.
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