Humification

The term “humification” refers to the formation of humus. In the absence of oxygen, microorganisms decompose organic matter, resulting in the formation of humus, which is a dark amorphous substance.

The process of humification is distinct from the process of mineralisation. Mineralisation is the process of recycling inorganic nutrients, as the name implies. Organic matter decomposes further, resulting in the formation of inorganic compounds.

Organic matter is transformed into organic polymers, which are stable and cannot be decomposed further by organisms, and thus remain as humus as a result of the humification process.

Humus

Amorphous fraction of soil organic matter, humus (which derives from the Latin humus, which means “earth”) refers to soil organic matter that lacks the “cellular cake structure characteristic of plants, micro-organisms, and animals” in environmental studies. The bulk density of the soil is greatly influenced by humus, which also contributes to the soil’s ability to retain moisture and nutrients during the growing season.

Despite the fact that the terms humus and compost are often used interchangeably informally, they are two distinct soil components with distinct origins: humus is formed by anaerobic fermentation, whereas compost is the product of aerobic decomposition. Humus is formed by anaerobic fermentation, whereas compost is formed by aerobic decomposition. When it comes to agriculture, the term “humus” refers to mature or natural compost that has been collected from a forest or other unplanned source for use as a soil conditioner. It is often referred to as a topsoil horizon because it contains organic matter in its composition.

To be more specific, humus is the dark organic matter that forms in the soil, particularly through the action of anaerobic organisms, when dead plant and animal matter (including aerobic compost) is broken down even further. There are numerous nutrients in humus that are beneficial to soil health, with nitrogen being the most important. 10:1 is the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio in humus (carbon to nitrogen).

The Process of Humification in the Soil

Several processes contribute to the humification of soil, including rock weathering, humification of plant remains, and lateralization.

The process of weathering

• Weathering is the process by which rocks are broken down into smaller pieces, either chemically or mechanically. It is necessary for the formation and growth of soil. Weathering is responsible for determining the mineral content of the soil.
• Minerals like these have an impact on the characteristics of the soil. The pH of the soil is altered as a result of chemical rock weathering.
• Carbonation causes calcium to be released into the soil, making it more alkaline. Chemical weathering may also have an impact on the texture of the soil. Granite feldspar is transformed into Kaolin clay, which imparts a clay-like texture to the soil as a result of hydrolysis. The colour of the soil can be affected by chemical weathering as well as physical weathering. Mechanical weathering is responsible for determining the composition of the soil.

The process of humification

• The decomposition of plant twigs, wood, and other organic matter results in the formation of humus during the humification process. The consistency of the soil, as well as its colour and texture, are determined by humification.
• The soil contains a lot of humus and is either black or dark brown in colour. Another factor that is influenced by humification is the water content of the soil.
• Humus assists in the binding of soil particles together. Humification is important for the growth of microorganisms because it keeps the soil’s pH at its optimal level. It improves the fertility of the soil as well as the organic content of the soil.

Lateralization 

• Chemical weathering is a type of weathering that includes carbonation, oxidation, and leaching, among other processes. In addition to affecting soil growth, this natural process has the potential to affect soil water content as well as pH and soil structure.
• This process has been observed to occur in a variety of environments, including hot environments such as equatorial settings (The Amazon in South America). Laterisation has an effect on the texture of the ground.
• It is believed that the dissolved mineral grains are responsible for preventing the formation of crumbly soils and thus leading to the production of platy soils such as latosols in the long run.
• Lateralization has a negative impact on the pH of soils as well.
• Extreme leaching has been discovered in a variety of environments, including equatorial rainforests with heavy monsoon rainfall. With the leaching method, mineral deposits are removed from the soil, resulting in more acidic soil water remaining in the soil.

Organic matter and humus in the soil have a number of advantages

Although most agricultural experts agree that the significance of chemically stable humus lies in the fertility it provides to soils, both in a physical and chemical context, some agricultural experts place greater emphasis on other characteristics of chemically stable humus, such as its ability to suppress disease.

By increasing microporosity, it aids in the retention of moisture in the soil and the development of a healthy soil structure.

The introduction of oxygen into complex organic molecular assemblages results in the formation of several active, negatively charged sites that bind positively charged ions (cations) of the plant nutrients, thereby increasing their accessibility to the plant through ion exchange and increasing its productivity. Abiotic humus, also known as soil “life-force,” facilitates the feeding and reproduction of soil species by acting as a nutrient source.

• The process by which soil organic matter is transformed into humus provides food for the population of soil microorganisms and other creatures, allowing them to thrive and maintain high and stable levels of soil life.
• In the soil, the rate at which organic matter decomposes and becomes humus either promotes or inhibits the coexistence of animals, plants, and microorganisms with one another.
• In general, stable humus and effective humus can be thought of as additional sources of nutrients for microbes, with the former providing a readily available supply and the latter serving as a reservoir of long-term storage.

Conclusion

Organic matter is transformed into organic polymers, which are stable and cannot be decomposed further by organisms, and thus remain as humus as a result of the humification process.The bulk density of the soil is greatly influenced by humus, which also contributes to the soil’s ability to retain moisture and nutrients during the growing season. Humus is the dark organic matter that forms in the soil, particularly through the action of anaerobic organisms, when dead plant and animal matter (including aerobic compost) is broken down even further.The process by which soil organic matter is transformed into humus provides food for the population of soil microorganisms and other creatures, allowing them to thrive and maintain high and stable levels of soil life.