Soil organic matter

Possible classification of the organic matter in the soil

The organic soil substance (OBS), English soil organic matter (SOM), is a comprehensive term for the organic matter in the soil .

One possible classification of soil organic matter is shown in the figure. Then it consists of:

• living organic matter ( biomass ) and
• dead organic matter ( humus and detritus ).

In mineral soils, the average organic matter consists of 85% humus, around 10% plant roots and around 5% edaphon ( soil flora and fauna ).

The humus can be further divided into humic substances and non-humic substances , so-called litter substances. The former are often divided into three fractions: humins , humic acids and fulvic acids . Furthermore, a distinction particulate SOM (failed precipitates ) and adsorbed SOM (of minerals or the mineral soil bound) and dissolved organic matter (English: dissolved organic matter , DOM).

See also

• Bioeffector

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Kuntze / Roeschmann / Schwerdtfeger Bodenkunde , 5th edition, 1994, page 100, ISBN 3-8252-8076-4