Does organic matter increase soil water retention andrelationship between organic matter and organic carbon?
Yes, organic matter increases soil water retention. Organic matter has a high surface area, which allows it to hold water molecules. It also improves soil structure, which creates more pores for water to infiltrate and be stored.
The relationship between organic matter and organic carbon is that organic matter is composed of about 50% organic carbon. Organic carbon is the largest component of soil organic matter, and it is the most stable and resistant to decomposition.
The amount of organic carbon in soil is often used as a measure of soil organic matter content. A 1% increase in soil organic carbon can increase soil water retention by up to 4%.
Here are some of the ways that organic matter increases soil water retention:
- Increased surface area: Organic matter has a high surface area, which allows it to hold water molecules.
- Improved soil structure: Organic matter helps to improve soil structure by creating aggregates. Aggregates are groups of soil particles that stick together. They create larger pores in the soil, which allows water to infiltrate and be stored more easily.
- Increased water holding capacity of individual soil particles: Organic matter can coat individual soil particles and increase their water holding capacity.
- Reduced water evaporation: Organic matter can help to reduce water evaporation from the soil surface by forming a mulch layer.
Organic matter is essential for maintaining healthy soils and for supporting plant growth. It helps to improve soil water retention, soil fertility, and soil structure.
Here are some tips for increasing soil organic matter content:
- Add compost or manure to your soil: Compost and manure are excellent sources of organic matter.
- Plant cover crops: Cover crops are plants that are grown to protect and improve the soil. They help to increase soil organic matter content by adding roots and leaves to the soil.
- Reduce tillage: Tillage can break down organic matter and release it into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. Reducing tillage can help to preserve soil organic matter.
- Keep the soil covered: A layer of mulch on the soil surface can help to reduce water evaporation and protect organic matter from decomposition.
Soils with higher organic matter can infiltrate and store water at greater capacities. Organic matter functions like a sponge, with the ability to absorb and hold up to 90 percent of its weight in water. One huge benefit of the water-holding capacity of organic matter is that it will release most of the water that it absorbs. The relationship between soil organic matter (SOM) and soil carbon (SC) is as follows: SOM = 1.724 × SOC.
The addition of organic matter to the soil usually increases the water holding capacity of the soil. This is because the addition of organic matter increases the number of micropores and macropores in the soil either by “gluing” soil particles together or by creating favorable living conditions for soil organisms. One of the features of organic fertilizers is the water retaining capacity. It is a valuable feature because it contributes the soils' water balance. Increased soil organic matter enhances your soil's ability to absorb water, leading to less water stress during both dry and wet periods. This can be achieved by: Incorporate compost, manures, or other stable organic materials. Grow and incorporate a high biomass cover crop. Soils with the application of organic manures illustrate a smaller bulk density, but larger water holding capacity, and greater organic matter content. In cultivated soils, adding manure often demonstrates a better soil physical condition and a higher MWD value. Organic matter plays a significant role in crop production and soil health by improving physical, chemical and biological functions in the soil. Increasing levels of organic matter aid in soil structure, water-holding capacity, nutrient mineralization, biological activity, and water and air infiltration rates. Organic matter particles have a charged surface that attracts water so that it adheres to the surface, like static cling, but may also have pores and charges that repel water. If we make the assumption that organic matter holds 10 times its weight, or 82,026 kg (180,836 lbs) of water. There are 8.3454 lbs in a gallon, so that is 21,668 gallons of water. The math in our commonly quoted fact checks out. Organic matter (%) = Total organic carbon (%) x 1.72. This conversion factor assumes organic matter contains 58 % organic carbon. However this can vary with the type of organic matter, soil type and soil depth. Conversion factors can be as high as 2.50, especially for subsoil’s. About 58% of the mass of organic matter exists as carbon. We can estimate the percentage of SOM from the SOC% using the conversion factor 1.72 (derived from 100/58). This conversion factor can vary in different soils, but 1.72 provides a reasonable estimate of SOM for most purposes. In reality, the residue after harvest is organic material and not organic matter. Organic material is anything that was alive and is now in or on the soil. For the organic material to become organic matter, it must be decomposed into humus. Organic matter is commonly and incorrectly used to describe the same soil fraction as total organic carbon. Organic matter is different to total organic carbon in that it includes all the elements (hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, etc) that are components of organic compounds, not just carbon.
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