Write down the importance of organic matter.

The importance of soil organic matter is relation to soil fertility and

physical condition is widely recognized. However, organic matter
contributes to the fertility or productivity of the soil through its positive
effects on the chemical, physical and biological properties of the soil.
The role of organic matter in soil is so varied and extensive that it
makes one think of the claims printed on old time patent machine labels;
fortunately these for organic matter are all true.
1. Organic matter influence the soil color due to presence
of adequate amount of organic matter in soil, the color
will be brown to dark brown or black.
2. Organic matter binds soil particles (sand, silt and clay)
into structural units called aggregates. Hence organic
matter has a profound effect on the improvement of
soil structure and thereby soil maintains favorable
condition of aeration and permeability.
3. The rate of infiltration and percolation of water is
enhanced by the application of organic matter in the
soil.
4. Water holding capacity is increased by the application
of organic matter. The amount of available water in
sandy and loamy soils increase with the application of
organic matter.
5. Organic matter reduces plasticity, cohesion, stickiness
etc. in soils containing appreciable amounts of clay.
6. Organic matter increases the ability of the soil to resist
erosion.
7. Organic matter affects the bulk density of soil which in
turn influences the soil porosity favorably.
8. Organic matter reduces losses of surface soil by wind
erosion by forming granules with soil particles.
9. During decomposition or organic matter various
organic acids and CO2 liberate in the soil which help to
reduce alkalinity of soil.
10. Organic matter also acts as a buffering agent. Due to
such buffering effect it reduces the likelihood of
damage to plant roots from excessive acids, alkalis or
added to it in the form of fertilizers and thus stabilizes
the soil pH.
 11. Organic matter has solubilizing effect on some mineral
compounds present in the soil.
12. Organic matter can be considered as a store house of
various nutrients essential to plant growth. Organic
matter is the source of 90-95% of the nitrogen in
unfertilized soil. In addition, organic matter supplies
available phosphorus, sulfur and some other
micronutrients like Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn to the soil and
thereby increases the nutrient as well as improves the
soil health.
13. Organic matter temporarily absorbs heavy metal
pollutants which are usually derived from applied
waste waters used for irrigation. Adsorption of
pollutants helps clean contaminated water.
14. Organic matter serves as a source of energy for both
macro and micro organisms and helps in performing
various beneficial functions in soil.
15. Organic matter acts as a chelate. Chelate is any organic
compound that can bound to a metal more than one
bond and from a ring or cyclic structure by that
bonding.
16. Various organic substances like vitamins, antibiotics
and growth promoting compounds namely auxin are
produced by different micro-organism during
decomposition of various organic matter.
17. Organic matter interact with organic pesticides and it
can absorb N and S oxides from the atmosphere with
have implications with respect to both the yield of crop
plants and the quality of the environmental
respectively.
Harmful effects of organic matter:
Many beneficial effects or organic matter in the soil are
counter balanced by harmful influence under certain conditions. A few
harmful effects are given below:
1. Organic matter is an energy anti carbon source fro
many diseases organism ensuring their longer periods
of survival in soils.
2. Excessive amounts of organic matter create a problem
for mixing the soil thoroughly and abstract easy
planting.
 3. Various organic residues produce different
phytotoxins during their decomposition which make
them undesirable as organic matter. Alleopathy is also
active. Alleopathy is any direct or indirect harmful
effect of one plant on another through the production
and release of toxic substance into the environment.
Describe the sample and products of organic matter decomposition:
As a result of enzymic action of organic matter and
consequent formation of humus simple end products are formed
immediately. The simple end products are either used by plants or
microorganisms or readily lost, if not utilized and sink to minimum unless
fresh tissues are frequently added.
As the enzymatic changes of soil organic matter proceed,
simple end products begin to manifest themselves. Some of them especially
carbon dioxide and water appear immediately. Others are nitrate nitrogen
etc. accumulate only after the peak of two vigorous decomposition stage is
over, and the general purpose decay organisms decrease in number.
The common simple products which are formed due to
the activity of soil micro organisms are:
I. Carbon base components: CO2, CO3²ˉ,HCO3ˉCH4, C (elemental
carbon).
II. Nitrogen base compounds: NH4+, NO2+, NO3ˉ, N(gaseous)
III. Sulfur base compounds: S, H2S, SO3²ˉ, SO4²ˉ, CO2
IV. Phosphorus base compounds: H2PO4, HPO4²ˉ, PO4³ˉ(in acidic
soil)
V. Other sample products: H2O, H+, OHˉ, O2, H2, Na+, K+, Ca²+,
Mg²+, Fe²+, Zn, Mn, Ge etc.
Distinguish between peat and muck:
Peat Muck
1. An organic soil that contains more 1. An organic soil that contain 20-
than 50% organic matter & the 50% organic matter & the organic
organic matter is partially decayed or matter is completely decomposed, is
non-decayed, is called peat. called muck.
2. The kind of plant in the peat can 2. The plant materials of muck
be identified. cannot be identified.
3. Peat soils are coarse/fine textured 3. Muck soils are quite fine textured
depending on the nature of deposited as the original plant materials are
plant residues. broken down.
4. Light in color 4. Light in color
• Describe the influence of organic matter on soil properties.
 Or
*Describe in detail the importance of soil organic matter in soil fertility.
Or
• Write down the function of soil organic matter on soil properties.

Organic matter is an essential part of a productive soil.

Although it remains in the soil in a small amount it is a store house of
plant nutrients in the soil. It influence on the physical, chemical and
biological properties of the soil, the functions of organic matter are
described as below
Effect of physical properties of soil
1. Effect of organic matter on soil erosion:
Coarse organic matter on the soil surface reduces impact
of the falling raindrop and permits clear water to seep gently into the soil. As
a result surface run off of water and erosion are reduced. And there is more
available water for plant growth. Coarse organic matter on the soil surface
reduced losses of soil by wind erosion.
2. Effect of organic matter on soil temperature:
Organic matter makes a soil black colored. Black colored
soil absorbs more heat than lighter colored soil. This
temperature is necessary for seed germination. On the
other hand surface mulches lower soil temperatures in the
summer and keep the soil warmer in winter.
3. Effect of organic matter on soil evaporation:
Evaporation losses of water are reduced by organic
matter.
4. Effect of organic matter on soil structure:
Decomposing organic matter produces slimes and
microbial gums which help to form and to stabilize
desirable soil structure.
5. Effect of organic matter on decay of plant root:
When the plant roots decay they provide channels,
through which new plant roots grow. These channels are
effective in transmitting water and plants use this water
from the channels.
6. Effect of organic matter on water holding capacity:
Organic matter increases water holding capacity in the
soil. It holds water fairly tightly, thus the permanent
wilting percentage is increased.
• Effect on chemical properties in soil:
1. Effect of organic matter on nutrient availability:
Upon decomposition organic matters supply some
of all nutrients needed by growing plants. When
external condition are favorable for rapid plant
growth. The same conditions favor a rapid release
of nutrients from the organic matter. Most of the
soil nitrogen occurs in organic combination which
releases nitrogen in the soil for plant.
2. Effect of organic matter on ion exchange:
Humus as well as organic matter is store house for
the exchangeable and available cations such as K+,
Ca²+. Mg²+, etc. temporary it holds NH4+ ion in an
exchangeable and available form. It increases ion
exchange capacity of the soil.
3. Effect of organic matter on availability of phosphorus:
Fresh organic matter has a special function in
making available soil phosphorus in acid soil.
Upon decomposition organic matter releases
citrates, oxalates, tetrahedral and lactates, which
combine with iron and aluminum more readily
than does phosphorus. As a result the availability
of phosphorus ion increased.
4. Effect of organic matter on solubility of soil minerals:
Upon decomposition of organic matter, reduced
various kinds of acids and carbon dioxide which
reacts with soil minerals and dissolve it and
releases plant nutrient elements.
5. Effect of organic matter on buffering:
Organic matter as well as humus contains various
kinds of exchangeable cations which resist the soil
pH after making a small amount of acid and alkali.
6. Effect of organic matter on reclamations of alkalinity:
After decomposition of organic matter and
inorganic acids are released. These acids help to
reduce alkalinity of soil.
* Effect of biological properties of soil:
1. Effect of organic matter on the source of food and energy of
microorganisms.
Soil organic matter is the main food and energy
source of soil microorganisms. Through decomposition of organic matter
microorganisms take up their food elements. So organic matter serves as a
source of energy for the growth of soil micro-organisms.