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The superpower of humus: Why does it make soil so fertile?
In agricultural and environmental sciences, humus is not just black soil organic matter, it represents the basis of soil life for thriving ecosystems. Humus is a complex substance formed by the decomposition and transformation of plant and animal remains under the action of microorganisms. This process is called humification. Perhaps most notably, humus provides rich nutrients and moisture to the soil, making it crucial for increasing crop yields.
"The presence of humus makes the soil more fertile and helps plants grow."
The formation of humus first requires plant residues, dead animals and microorganisms, and the excreta of various soil organisms. This means that each layer of humus carries a record of the ecosphere, showing busy microbial activity. In this process, the rapidly decomposing sugars and starches will weave into a viscous substance that looks like a liquid, which is the main component of humus.
Having rich effectiveness, humus greatly improves the structure and moisture retention capacity of the soil, while improving the water storage capacity of the soil. Research shows that humus is able to absorb 80-90% of its own weight in water, making it effective against drought challenges. This property makes it key to global food security and the continued development of agriculture.
In addition, the nitrogen content of humus is one of its characteristics, and nitrogen is an important element for plant growth. According to research, the carbon to nitrogen ratio (C:N) in humus can reach between 8:1 and 15:1. This allows humus not only to provide nitrogen, but also to act as a reservoir for other nutrients that plants need through the ion exchange process.
"The chemical stability of humus makes it a paradise-like existence, providing rich ecosystem services to the soil."
In addition to the chemical properties, the physical properties of humus are also crucial. Stable humus generally prevents organic matter from rapidly decomposing into carbon dioxide and helps reduce the density of the soil, thereby increasing its aeration and structure. In addition, the color of humus can make the cold soil in spring warm up faster, providing a good environment for plant growth.
However, the persistence and stability of humus have attracted widespread academic attention. Many believe that humus must be stable for many years to truly exert its effect on soil fertility, a process that involves complex microbial interactions and chemical changes. The scientific community’s research on humus is still in-depth, and the interaction of many chemical components and how they are stabilized in soil is still a difficult problem.
The presence of microorganisms also plays an important role in the decomposition of humus. In fact, these microorganisms help further break down organic matter, converting it into inorganic minerals that plants can absorb. This process is not only related to the fertility of the soil, but also affects the biological diversity in the soil. The formation and decomposition process of humus demonstrates the dynamic balance of the soil ecosystem, which is an important issue in sustainable agriculture.
"Each layer of humus in the soil tells an ecological story of the past, and these stories will become an important foundation for future agricultural development."
In the future, as research on humus deepens, scientists will be able to better understand its key role in soil and the entire ecosystem. People may be able to discover more new ways to increase the humus content in agricultural soil to achieve better sustainable development. For agricultural and environmental scientists, can thinking about the role of humus be the core key to solving the current food crisis?
