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Sugars & starches 5% Polyphenols 2% Fats & waxes 2% o These compounds decompose at different rates: Sugars & Starches Proteins Hemicellulose Cellulose Fats & Waxes Lignins & Phenolic Compounds Very Slow Decomposition Decomposition of organic compounds in aerobic soils involve three reactions: o Carbon compounds are enzymatically oxidized, producing CO2, H2O, energy, and decomposed biomass. o The essential nutrient elements nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulphur are released and/or immobilized by a series of specific reactions generally unique to each element. o Compounds are very resistant to microbial action are formed. o First, oxidization breaks down organic compounds this basic reactions accounts for most of the organic decomposition in the soil, as well as for O2 consumption, and CO2 release. o Second, plant proteins succumb to microbial decay, producing not only CO2 and H2O, but also amino acids such as glycine and cysteine that, in turn break down into simple inorganic ions of such as ammonium, nitrate, and sulphate, into forms available to plants. Rapid Decomposition
breaking down very resistant, stable organic matter in the soil (such as lignins). o Then there is an infusion of fresh, decomposable organic matter to the soil. The appearance of easily decomposable and often water-soluble materials (sugars, starches, and amino acids) stimulate an almost immediate increase in metabolic activity among soil microbes. o Soon zymogenous (opportunist) organisms overwhelm the autochtonous organisms. o Cellulous-digesting organisms rapidly join in the feast. o Microbial numbers and CO2 evolution increase exponentially. o Soon microbial activity is at its peak. At this point, the microbial biomass may represent one sixth of the organic matter in the soil. They are also stimulating the breakdown of more resistant soil organic matter, known as the priming effect. o As they consume the organic matter, they are also synthesizing new organic compounds. o The easily decomposed organic matter is soon exhausted and the zymogenous organisms begin to die off due to starvation. The decomposition of the organisms begin to die off due to starvation. The decomposition of the dead microbial cells is associated with the mineralization of release of simple inorganic products, such as nitrates and sulphates. o Eventually the carbon supplies drop lower and the generalpurpose zymogenous organisms become dormant again. o By now very little of the original residue materials remain. That which does are tiny particles that have become physically protected from decay by lodging inside soil pores too tight to allow access by most organisms.
o Wet, anaerobic soils tend to accumulate large amounts of organic matter in a partially decomposed condition. o Anaerobic decomposition releases relatively little energy for organisms involved. Therefore, the end products retain much energy (and this is why alcohol and methane can be used as fuels). o Various methanogenic bacteria break down organic matter in anaerobic conditions. o This is also why such decomposition produces foul odours (swamp gas).
o The quality of the added residues as a food source for soil organisms The environmental conditions conducive for rapid decomposition and mineralization are: o A near-neutral pH o Sufficient water moisture (about 60% of the soil pore space filled with H2O) o Good aeration o Warm temperatures (25-35C) The quality of residue as a good food supply is dependent upon: o The physical condition of the residue o Their Carbon/Nitrogen ratio o Their content of lignin and polyphenols The physical factors influencing residue quality are dependent upon where the residue is located. o Surface placement of residues, such as forest litter or conservation tillage mulch, usually results in slower, more variable rates of decomposition than when similar residue is turned into the soil. o This is because the residue in the soil is on contact with the soil organisms and is generally kept more moist than residue on the surface. o Surface residue is also subjected to extremes of temperature. o Nutrient elements mineralized from surface residue tends to be more susceptible to loss than those from incorporated residue. The Carbon/Nitrogen ratio is also important. Soil organisms need nitrogen and this ratio is important for two reasons: 1. Intense competition among soil organisms for available soil nitrogen when residues having a high Carbon/Nitrogen ratio are added to the soil 2. The Carbon/Nitrogen ratio in residues helps determine the rate of decay and the rate at which nitrogen is made available to plants.
o The Carbon/Nitrogen ratio can range from 10:1 to 30:1 in legumes and young green leaves to as high as 600:1 in sawdust. o This ratio can also range between horizons in a soil profile as well, from 8:1 to 15:1 in Ap horizons to much lower in subsurface horizons. o Soil microbes require a balance of nutrients to survive on. They need both carbon and nitrogen. The ideal Carbon/Nitrogen ratio is 8:1 BUT because only about onethird of the carbon metabolized is incorporated by the soil organisms (the rest is exhaled), the ideal Carbon/Nitrogen ratio is 24:1. o The initial Carbon/Nitrogen ratio of residues in leaf litter is generally 55:1. This means that the microbes have to find more nitrogen from the soil solution, meaning that during this time, little or no nitrogen is available to plants. o This is called the nitrate depression period. o If an adequate supply of nitrogen is available, the potential for humus creation is increased. In cases where the C/N ratio is less than 24:1, more than enough nitrogen is available to soil microbes. o In these instances, some of the nitrogen is from the decomposed organic matter is released into the soil solution , augmenting the level of soluble nitrogen for plant uptake. o Generally, nitrogen-rich materials decompose rapidly, with intense microbial growth and activity and no nitrate depression period.
o By forming highly resistant complexes with proteins during residue decomposition, these polypholics can dramatically slow the rates of both nitrogen mineralization and carbon oxidization. o But this can be a good thing too. o While these can be seen as poor quality resources for soil organisms that recycle carbon and nutrients, the slow-todecompose residues also help to explain the accumulation of extremely high levels of humified nitrogen and carbon in the soils of mature boreal forests. o It also influences the decomposition and release of nitrogen from green manures.
Soil humus
Humic Substances
Humic substances comprise about 60-70% of the soil organic matter. o These are huge molecules with variable, rather than specific, structures and composition. o These are classified into three classes: 1. Fluvic acid lowest in molecular weight, lightest in colour, these are soluble in both acid and alkali and are most susceptible to microbial attack 2. Humic acid medium in molecular weight and colour; soluble in alkali but insoluble in acid; intermediate resistance to microbial attack 3. Humin highest in molecular weight and darkest in colour; insoluble in both acid and alkali; most resistant to microbial attack
Non-Humic Substances
Non-humic substances account for 20-30% of the humus in soils. o These are less complex and less resistant to microbial attack. o Unlike humic substances, these do have specific biomolecules with definite physical and chemical properties. o They include polysaccharides polymers with sugar-like structures. o Polysaccharides are particularly important in enhancing soil stability. And humus is surprisingly stable o Studies using radioactive isotopes have identified some humic substances converted thousands of years ago still in the soil today.