hi Dear

Decaying organic matter produces H+ which is responsible for acidity. The carbon dioxide (CO2) produced by decaying organic matter reacts with water in the soil to form a weak acid called carbonic acid. This is the same acid that develops when CO2 in the atmosphere reacts with rain to form acid rain naturally.

What happens when organic matter is added to the soil?

Adding organic matter improves soils high in clay or sand. Soils high in OM retain more moisture, have a crumbly structure that resists soil compaction, and contain a reservoir of nutrients that are slowly released over time. OM improves soil aeration, water drainage, root growth, and biological activity.

Does decomposition make soil acidic?

Natural processes tend to acidify soils. Base-forming cations are leached from soils, carbonic acid is formed from carbon dioxide, plant roots excrete organic acids, and decomposition produces acidic products.

What is the decomposition of organic matter in soil?

What is the decomposition of organic matter in soil? Decomposition is a biological process that includes the physical breakdown and biochemical transformation of complex organic molecules of dead material into simpler organic and inorganic molecules (Juma, 1998). Decomposition of organic matter is largely a biological process that occurs naturally.

Dr Reza Sokouti thank you for your contribution to the discussion

Organic matter is broken down into carbon dioxide and the mineral forms of nutrients like nitrogen. It is also converted into fungi and bacteria through these organisms feeding on the organic material and reproducing. Scientists call the organisms that decompose organic matter decomposers, saprobes or saprotrophs. Decomposition is the process of breakdown of the complex organic matter into a simpler inorganic matter like carbon dioxide, water, and nutrients. The fungi, bacteria, and flagellates initiate the process of decomposition and are known as decomposers. Decomposition of organic matter involves four component processes: photo-oxidation, leaching, combination, and mineralization. Arthropods are key factors influencing combination and mineralization. Any organic waste of plant, animal or human origin needs to be decomposed to form soil organic matter. Soil microorganisms and soil invertebrates degrade or break down the complex organic form into simpler ones. Decomposers are organisms that consume dead organisms and other organic waste. They recycle materials from the dead organisms and waste back into the ecosystem. These recycled materials are used by the producers to remake organic compound. Thus, high aeration, mesophilic temperature range, optimum moisture, neutral/alkaline soil reaction and narrow C: N ratio of soil and organic matter are required for rapid and better decomposition of organic matter. Climatic conditions, such as rainfall and temperature, and soil moisture and aeration affect the rate of organic matter decomposition. Organic matter decomposes faster in warm, humid climates and slower in cool, dry climates. Its speed is determined by three major factors: soil organisms, the physical environment and the quality of the organic matter. In the decomposition process, different products are released: carbon dioxide (CO2), energy, water, plant nutrients and resynthesized organic carbon compounds.

During decomposition, organic matter breaks down into simpler compounds through microbial action. This process includes leaching, colonization, decomposition, mineralization, and humification. Factors like temperature, moisture, oxygen availability, C/N ratio, particle size, chemical composition, pH, detritivore activity, soil texture, and human activities influence the rate of decomposition.

Dr S J Malik thank you for your contribution to the discussion

Decomposition is a complex process. Organic matter is broken down into carbon dioxide and the mineral forms of nutrients like nitrogen. It is also converted into fungi and bacteria through these organisms feeding on the organic material and reproducing. Its speed is determined by three major factors: soil organisms, the physical environment and the quality of the organic matter. In the decomposition process, different products are released: carbon dioxide (CO2), energy, water, plant nutrients and resynthesized organic carbon compounds. There are five steps of decomposition. These are fragmentation, leaching, catabolism, humification, and mineralization. During the fragmentation process, the breaking of detritus into little pieces by detritivores. Leaching is the process of releasing nutrients in the water and seeping into the soil. Temperature and soil moisture are the most important climatic factors the regulate decomposition through their effects on the activities of soil microbes. As, warm and moist environment favour decomposition whereas low temperature and moisture inhibit decomposition resulting in buildup of organic materials. Climatic conditions, such as rainfall and temperature, and soil moisture and aeration affect the rate of organic matter decomposition. Factors specific to organic reactions are those that determine the stability of reactants and products such as conjugation, hyperconjugation and aromaticity and the presence and stability of reactive intermediates such as free radicals, carbocations and carbanions.Organic matter decomposes faster in warm, humid climates and slower in cool, dry climates. The rate that crop residues decay when left standing in the field or when tilled into the soil is affected by: soil water content, soil temperature, soil nutrient status, soil microbial biomass, and soil aeration.

Dr Rana Hamza Shakil thank you for your contribution to the discussion

Decomposition of organic matter involves four component processes: photo-oxidation, leaching, combinations, and mineralization. Arthropods are key factors influencing combinations and mineralization. Decomposition of organic matter by bacteria under anaerobic conditions in, as, wetlands, flooded soils, sediments of lakes and oceans, sewage, and digestive tracts of ruminant animals, involves complex simultaneous processes that can produce methane as a byproduct. During decomposition the organic molecules in organic matter are broken down into simpler organic molecules that require further decomposition or into mineralised nutrients. The compounds in organic matter vary in the ease with which microorganisms can break them down. Decomposition is the process of breakdown of the complex organic matter into a simpler inorganic matter like carbon dioxide, water, and nutrients. The fungi, bacteria, and flagellates initiate the process of decomposition and are known as decomposers. Bacteria and other organisms of decay decompose organic matter fastest at temperatures of 30 to 35 degrees-C doubling the temperature in the range of 0 to 35 degrees-C usually wills double the rate of decomposition. Bacteria function best in the pH range of 7 to 8.5. Organic matter is broken down into carbon dioxide and the mineral forms of nutrients like nitrogen. It is also converted into fungi and bacteria through these organisms feeding on the organic material and reproducing. Scientists call the organisms that decompose organic matter decomposers, saprobes or saprotrophs. Bacteria play an important role in decomposition of organic materials, especially in the early stages of decomposition when moisture levels are high. In the later stages of decomposition, fungi tend to dominate. Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas fluorescens are examples of decomposer bacteria. Climatic conditions, such as rainfall and temperature, and soil moisture and aeration affect the rate of organic matter decomposition. Organic matter decomposes faster in warm, humid climates and slower in cool, dry climates. The rate that crop residues decay when left standing in the field or when tilled into the soil is affected by: soil water content, soil temperature, soil nutrient status, soil microbial biomass, and soil aeration. Decomposition is a complex process. Organic matter is broken down into carbon dioxide and the mineral forms of nutrients like nitrogen. It is also converted into fungi and bacteria through these organisms feeding on the organic material and reproducing.